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A digital magazine about Canada's trail running community. feature interviews, race reviews, inspiring stories, gear and clothing reviews and much more.
Citation preview
PETER GOODERunning Visionary in Saskatoon p8
Off ThE TOuRisT path in the Cdn Rockiesp15
FALL 2012 ISSUE 3
i2P YOuTh iNsPiRATiONp12
first sinister 7
solop20
ThE fuTuRE of trail running
in Canadap39
fALL shOE
REViEWfrom minimal
to stability
ELLiE GREENWOOD
Elite QampA p15
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
3wwwtrailrunnerca |
Whatrsquos Inside
15 Off ThE TOuRisT PAThEpic Rockies Runningby Sean Blanton
INTERVIEWS
REVIEWS
PETER GOODERunning Visionary in Saskatoon
OLiViA YuELElite Mountain Runner in the Prairies
fALL shOE REViEWsFrom Minimal to Stability
GEARArcrsquoteryx Clothing Review
GEARThe North Face Clothing Review
EDiTORiALItrsquos All about Community 4
811
18
42
44
sAskiA VALsEY Youth Ambassador Trains for Epic Expedition
12ELLiE GREENWOODElite QampA 14
GEARColumbia Solar PolarShort Sleeve Crew 48GEARCompressport Calf Sleeves 49
siNisTER 7for the first timeby Joanna Schmidt
20
WisDOm fROmKnee Knacker by Sasha Brown
26
ExPLORiNGthe Pemi Loop by Michel Caron
3333
suN PEAksRace and Resort by Sasha Brown
36
cRANbERRY fLATsFlats Race Reportby Chad Sawatzky
38
WhATrsquos ThEfuTuREof Canadian trail running by Keith Iskiw
39
NEWs fROmthe Canadian ultra sceneby Jonathan Schmidt
41
Cover Photo Monica Hardy Matthew Reich and Charlie Breakey explore the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park British Columbia Photo Credit Alan Lam
| Issue 3 FallWinter 20124
itrsquos all about communityIrsquom always amazed at what draws people to the sport of trail running At first many of us grabbed onto trail running because of the beautiful scenery or sense of new challenges but it seems that what keeps runners going is the sense of community While at the 2012 Lost Soul Ultra I was astounded at how many runners cited the reason for running this race year after year was the feeling of community and especially the incredible volunteers Personal challenges abound in my different sports and activities but it seems the trail running community has separated itself from other sports with the rich and real sense of community that develops at particular races or in particular towns and cities across Canada
When we run together whether in a race or while training we share the same trail but often we each have a unique experience My high point will be different than someone elsersquos and my low points may be too When the run or race is complete wersquove established common ground to share unique stories and experiences
This is a special experience fairly unique to trail running and a select few other similar activities
Often times in life we go through challenges on our own or without adequate supports I find it heartening to see runners support each other at a race and encourage each runner to meet their goals Recently on our website Chad Sawatzky shared his Lost Soul Ultra story of how his wife and the volunteers refused to let him DNF and pushed him to his year-long goal of finishing the Lost Soul 50k
In this issue of Trail Running Canadarsquos e-mag there are plenty of stories of about Canadarsquos trail running community Peter Goode race director runner and trail running visionary from Saskatoon is featured in a QampA Joanne Schmidt shares her experience of how friends family and volunteers aided her first Sinister 7 finish We also feature young runner Saskia Valsey who will be taking part in an epic running
expedition with Impossible to Possible Keith Iskiw looks at where Canadian trail culture is headed in the coming years and Sasha Brown covers the scene in British Columbia
At times runners are criticized for being egotistical and self-centred focusing only on their own goals I must say this isnrsquot what Irsquove seen at most trail races and in the local running groups In fact Irsquove often seen runners put aside their own goals to help others whether it be to volunteer for a race help a struggling runner during a race or by training with a friend or family member to help them accomplish their own goals These are the actions that build the running community and keep runners coming back year-after-year to races and local clubs
If you have a story to tell share it with us at runtrailrunnerca
Jonathan Schmidt is co-editor and administrator for Trail Running Canada He can be reached at runtrailrunnerca
EdIToRIalEDiTORs
Jonathan SchmidtIsabel Ostrom
DEsiGN amp LAYOuTAlex Whyte
ADVERTisiNG amp mARkETiNGJonathan Schmidt
cONTRibuTORsIsabel Ostrom
Keith IskiwJoanne SchmidtChad SawatzkyMichel Caron
Jonathan Schmidt
Have a comment or story Write or email us to
TRAiL RuNNiNGcANADA
124 Lakhota Cres WLethbridge AB
T1K 6H6
runtrailrunnercawwwtrailrunnerca
Copyright 2012Trail Running Canada
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the platform of adventure and technology to educate inspire and empower the global community to reach beyond their perceived limits and make positive change in the world
There is no cost for schools Youth Ambassadors or students to participate in Experiential Learning Programs and Expeditions To learn more please visit wwwimpossible2possiblecom
Education
Inspiration
Empowerment
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Drying in MotiontHE nEW StAnDArD in SWEAt rEMoVAL AnD tEMPErAtUrE rEgULAtionFlashDry molecular drying technology acts like your second skin pushing moisture to the surface of the fabric and eliminating it During high-endurance activities FlashDry works with your body to keep you dry cool and focused
See the real-life athlete story behind FlashDrytHEnortHFACECoMrUn
The NorTh Face aThleTe Tracy GarNeau ruNNiNG sTroNG iN Jasper NaTioNal parksTormy Trail JackeT BeTTer ThaN Nakedtrade crew + shorTs phoTo Tim kemple
JS0825121_TNF_TRAILRUNNER_TRACY_FALL_2012indd 1 82912 827 AM
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
3wwwtrailrunnerca |
Whatrsquos Inside
15 Off ThE TOuRisT PAThEpic Rockies Runningby Sean Blanton
INTERVIEWS
REVIEWS
PETER GOODERunning Visionary in Saskatoon
OLiViA YuELElite Mountain Runner in the Prairies
fALL shOE REViEWsFrom Minimal to Stability
GEARArcrsquoteryx Clothing Review
GEARThe North Face Clothing Review
EDiTORiALItrsquos All about Community 4
811
18
42
44
sAskiA VALsEY Youth Ambassador Trains for Epic Expedition
12ELLiE GREENWOODElite QampA 14
GEARColumbia Solar PolarShort Sleeve Crew 48GEARCompressport Calf Sleeves 49
siNisTER 7for the first timeby Joanna Schmidt
20
WisDOm fROmKnee Knacker by Sasha Brown
26
ExPLORiNGthe Pemi Loop by Michel Caron
3333
suN PEAksRace and Resort by Sasha Brown
36
cRANbERRY fLATsFlats Race Reportby Chad Sawatzky
38
WhATrsquos ThEfuTuREof Canadian trail running by Keith Iskiw
39
NEWs fROmthe Canadian ultra sceneby Jonathan Schmidt
41
Cover Photo Monica Hardy Matthew Reich and Charlie Breakey explore the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park British Columbia Photo Credit Alan Lam
| Issue 3 FallWinter 20124
itrsquos all about communityIrsquom always amazed at what draws people to the sport of trail running At first many of us grabbed onto trail running because of the beautiful scenery or sense of new challenges but it seems that what keeps runners going is the sense of community While at the 2012 Lost Soul Ultra I was astounded at how many runners cited the reason for running this race year after year was the feeling of community and especially the incredible volunteers Personal challenges abound in my different sports and activities but it seems the trail running community has separated itself from other sports with the rich and real sense of community that develops at particular races or in particular towns and cities across Canada
When we run together whether in a race or while training we share the same trail but often we each have a unique experience My high point will be different than someone elsersquos and my low points may be too When the run or race is complete wersquove established common ground to share unique stories and experiences
This is a special experience fairly unique to trail running and a select few other similar activities
Often times in life we go through challenges on our own or without adequate supports I find it heartening to see runners support each other at a race and encourage each runner to meet their goals Recently on our website Chad Sawatzky shared his Lost Soul Ultra story of how his wife and the volunteers refused to let him DNF and pushed him to his year-long goal of finishing the Lost Soul 50k
In this issue of Trail Running Canadarsquos e-mag there are plenty of stories of about Canadarsquos trail running community Peter Goode race director runner and trail running visionary from Saskatoon is featured in a QampA Joanne Schmidt shares her experience of how friends family and volunteers aided her first Sinister 7 finish We also feature young runner Saskia Valsey who will be taking part in an epic running
expedition with Impossible to Possible Keith Iskiw looks at where Canadian trail culture is headed in the coming years and Sasha Brown covers the scene in British Columbia
At times runners are criticized for being egotistical and self-centred focusing only on their own goals I must say this isnrsquot what Irsquove seen at most trail races and in the local running groups In fact Irsquove often seen runners put aside their own goals to help others whether it be to volunteer for a race help a struggling runner during a race or by training with a friend or family member to help them accomplish their own goals These are the actions that build the running community and keep runners coming back year-after-year to races and local clubs
If you have a story to tell share it with us at runtrailrunnerca
Jonathan Schmidt is co-editor and administrator for Trail Running Canada He can be reached at runtrailrunnerca
EdIToRIalEDiTORs
Jonathan SchmidtIsabel Ostrom
DEsiGN amp LAYOuTAlex Whyte
ADVERTisiNG amp mARkETiNGJonathan Schmidt
cONTRibuTORsIsabel Ostrom
Keith IskiwJoanne SchmidtChad SawatzkyMichel Caron
Jonathan Schmidt
Have a comment or story Write or email us to
TRAiL RuNNiNGcANADA
124 Lakhota Cres WLethbridge AB
T1K 6H6
runtrailrunnercawwwtrailrunnerca
Copyright 2012Trail Running Canada
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the platform of adventure and technology to educate inspire and empower the global community to reach beyond their perceived limits and make positive change in the world
There is no cost for schools Youth Ambassadors or students to participate in Experiential Learning Programs and Expeditions To learn more please visit wwwimpossible2possiblecom
Education
Inspiration
Empowerment
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Drying in MotiontHE nEW StAnDArD in SWEAt rEMoVAL AnD tEMPErAtUrE rEgULAtionFlashDry molecular drying technology acts like your second skin pushing moisture to the surface of the fabric and eliminating it During high-endurance activities FlashDry works with your body to keep you dry cool and focused
See the real-life athlete story behind FlashDrytHEnortHFACECoMrUn
The NorTh Face aThleTe Tracy GarNeau ruNNiNG sTroNG iN Jasper NaTioNal parksTormy Trail JackeT BeTTer ThaN Nakedtrade crew + shorTs phoTo Tim kemple
JS0825121_TNF_TRAILRUNNER_TRACY_FALL_2012indd 1 82912 827 AM
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
3wwwtrailrunnerca |
Whatrsquos Inside
15 Off ThE TOuRisT PAThEpic Rockies Runningby Sean Blanton
INTERVIEWS
REVIEWS
PETER GOODERunning Visionary in Saskatoon
OLiViA YuELElite Mountain Runner in the Prairies
fALL shOE REViEWsFrom Minimal to Stability
GEARArcrsquoteryx Clothing Review
GEARThe North Face Clothing Review
EDiTORiALItrsquos All about Community 4
811
18
42
44
sAskiA VALsEY Youth Ambassador Trains for Epic Expedition
12ELLiE GREENWOODElite QampA 14
GEARColumbia Solar PolarShort Sleeve Crew 48GEARCompressport Calf Sleeves 49
siNisTER 7for the first timeby Joanna Schmidt
20
WisDOm fROmKnee Knacker by Sasha Brown
26
ExPLORiNGthe Pemi Loop by Michel Caron
3333
suN PEAksRace and Resort by Sasha Brown
36
cRANbERRY fLATsFlats Race Reportby Chad Sawatzky
38
WhATrsquos ThEfuTuREof Canadian trail running by Keith Iskiw
39
NEWs fROmthe Canadian ultra sceneby Jonathan Schmidt
41
Cover Photo Monica Hardy Matthew Reich and Charlie Breakey explore the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park British Columbia Photo Credit Alan Lam
| Issue 3 FallWinter 20124
itrsquos all about communityIrsquom always amazed at what draws people to the sport of trail running At first many of us grabbed onto trail running because of the beautiful scenery or sense of new challenges but it seems that what keeps runners going is the sense of community While at the 2012 Lost Soul Ultra I was astounded at how many runners cited the reason for running this race year after year was the feeling of community and especially the incredible volunteers Personal challenges abound in my different sports and activities but it seems the trail running community has separated itself from other sports with the rich and real sense of community that develops at particular races or in particular towns and cities across Canada
When we run together whether in a race or while training we share the same trail but often we each have a unique experience My high point will be different than someone elsersquos and my low points may be too When the run or race is complete wersquove established common ground to share unique stories and experiences
This is a special experience fairly unique to trail running and a select few other similar activities
Often times in life we go through challenges on our own or without adequate supports I find it heartening to see runners support each other at a race and encourage each runner to meet their goals Recently on our website Chad Sawatzky shared his Lost Soul Ultra story of how his wife and the volunteers refused to let him DNF and pushed him to his year-long goal of finishing the Lost Soul 50k
In this issue of Trail Running Canadarsquos e-mag there are plenty of stories of about Canadarsquos trail running community Peter Goode race director runner and trail running visionary from Saskatoon is featured in a QampA Joanne Schmidt shares her experience of how friends family and volunteers aided her first Sinister 7 finish We also feature young runner Saskia Valsey who will be taking part in an epic running
expedition with Impossible to Possible Keith Iskiw looks at where Canadian trail culture is headed in the coming years and Sasha Brown covers the scene in British Columbia
At times runners are criticized for being egotistical and self-centred focusing only on their own goals I must say this isnrsquot what Irsquove seen at most trail races and in the local running groups In fact Irsquove often seen runners put aside their own goals to help others whether it be to volunteer for a race help a struggling runner during a race or by training with a friend or family member to help them accomplish their own goals These are the actions that build the running community and keep runners coming back year-after-year to races and local clubs
If you have a story to tell share it with us at runtrailrunnerca
Jonathan Schmidt is co-editor and administrator for Trail Running Canada He can be reached at runtrailrunnerca
EdIToRIalEDiTORs
Jonathan SchmidtIsabel Ostrom
DEsiGN amp LAYOuTAlex Whyte
ADVERTisiNG amp mARkETiNGJonathan Schmidt
cONTRibuTORsIsabel Ostrom
Keith IskiwJoanne SchmidtChad SawatzkyMichel Caron
Jonathan Schmidt
Have a comment or story Write or email us to
TRAiL RuNNiNGcANADA
124 Lakhota Cres WLethbridge AB
T1K 6H6
runtrailrunnercawwwtrailrunnerca
Copyright 2012Trail Running Canada
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the platform of adventure and technology to educate inspire and empower the global community to reach beyond their perceived limits and make positive change in the world
There is no cost for schools Youth Ambassadors or students to participate in Experiential Learning Programs and Expeditions To learn more please visit wwwimpossible2possiblecom
Education
Inspiration
Empowerment
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Drying in MotiontHE nEW StAnDArD in SWEAt rEMoVAL AnD tEMPErAtUrE rEgULAtionFlashDry molecular drying technology acts like your second skin pushing moisture to the surface of the fabric and eliminating it During high-endurance activities FlashDry works with your body to keep you dry cool and focused
See the real-life athlete story behind FlashDrytHEnortHFACECoMrUn
The NorTh Face aThleTe Tracy GarNeau ruNNiNG sTroNG iN Jasper NaTioNal parksTormy Trail JackeT BeTTer ThaN Nakedtrade crew + shorTs phoTo Tim kemple
JS0825121_TNF_TRAILRUNNER_TRACY_FALL_2012indd 1 82912 827 AM
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
| Issue 3 FallWinter 20124
itrsquos all about communityIrsquom always amazed at what draws people to the sport of trail running At first many of us grabbed onto trail running because of the beautiful scenery or sense of new challenges but it seems that what keeps runners going is the sense of community While at the 2012 Lost Soul Ultra I was astounded at how many runners cited the reason for running this race year after year was the feeling of community and especially the incredible volunteers Personal challenges abound in my different sports and activities but it seems the trail running community has separated itself from other sports with the rich and real sense of community that develops at particular races or in particular towns and cities across Canada
When we run together whether in a race or while training we share the same trail but often we each have a unique experience My high point will be different than someone elsersquos and my low points may be too When the run or race is complete wersquove established common ground to share unique stories and experiences
This is a special experience fairly unique to trail running and a select few other similar activities
Often times in life we go through challenges on our own or without adequate supports I find it heartening to see runners support each other at a race and encourage each runner to meet their goals Recently on our website Chad Sawatzky shared his Lost Soul Ultra story of how his wife and the volunteers refused to let him DNF and pushed him to his year-long goal of finishing the Lost Soul 50k
In this issue of Trail Running Canadarsquos e-mag there are plenty of stories of about Canadarsquos trail running community Peter Goode race director runner and trail running visionary from Saskatoon is featured in a QampA Joanne Schmidt shares her experience of how friends family and volunteers aided her first Sinister 7 finish We also feature young runner Saskia Valsey who will be taking part in an epic running
expedition with Impossible to Possible Keith Iskiw looks at where Canadian trail culture is headed in the coming years and Sasha Brown covers the scene in British Columbia
At times runners are criticized for being egotistical and self-centred focusing only on their own goals I must say this isnrsquot what Irsquove seen at most trail races and in the local running groups In fact Irsquove often seen runners put aside their own goals to help others whether it be to volunteer for a race help a struggling runner during a race or by training with a friend or family member to help them accomplish their own goals These are the actions that build the running community and keep runners coming back year-after-year to races and local clubs
If you have a story to tell share it with us at runtrailrunnerca
Jonathan Schmidt is co-editor and administrator for Trail Running Canada He can be reached at runtrailrunnerca
EdIToRIalEDiTORs
Jonathan SchmidtIsabel Ostrom
DEsiGN amp LAYOuTAlex Whyte
ADVERTisiNG amp mARkETiNGJonathan Schmidt
cONTRibuTORsIsabel Ostrom
Keith IskiwJoanne SchmidtChad SawatzkyMichel Caron
Jonathan Schmidt
Have a comment or story Write or email us to
TRAiL RuNNiNGcANADA
124 Lakhota Cres WLethbridge AB
T1K 6H6
runtrailrunnercawwwtrailrunnerca
Copyright 2012Trail Running Canada
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the platform of adventure and technology to educate inspire and empower the global community to reach beyond their perceived limits and make positive change in the world
There is no cost for schools Youth Ambassadors or students to participate in Experiential Learning Programs and Expeditions To learn more please visit wwwimpossible2possiblecom
Education
Inspiration
Empowerment
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Drying in MotiontHE nEW StAnDArD in SWEAt rEMoVAL AnD tEMPErAtUrE rEgULAtionFlashDry molecular drying technology acts like your second skin pushing moisture to the surface of the fabric and eliminating it During high-endurance activities FlashDry works with your body to keep you dry cool and focused
See the real-life athlete story behind FlashDrytHEnortHFACECoMrUn
The NorTh Face aThleTe Tracy GarNeau ruNNiNG sTroNG iN Jasper NaTioNal parksTormy Trail JackeT BeTTer ThaN Nakedtrade crew + shorTs phoTo Tim kemple
JS0825121_TNF_TRAILRUNNER_TRACY_FALL_2012indd 1 82912 827 AM
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the platform of adventure and technology to educate inspire and empower the global community to reach beyond their perceived limits and make positive change in the world
There is no cost for schools Youth Ambassadors or students to participate in Experiential Learning Programs and Expeditions To learn more please visit wwwimpossible2possiblecom
Education
Inspiration
Empowerment
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Drying in MotiontHE nEW StAnDArD in SWEAt rEMoVAL AnD tEMPErAtUrE rEgULAtionFlashDry molecular drying technology acts like your second skin pushing moisture to the surface of the fabric and eliminating it During high-endurance activities FlashDry works with your body to keep you dry cool and focused
See the real-life athlete story behind FlashDrytHEnortHFACECoMrUn
The NorTh Face aThleTe Tracy GarNeau ruNNiNG sTroNG iN Jasper NaTioNal parksTormy Trail JackeT BeTTer ThaN Nakedtrade crew + shorTs phoTo Tim kemple
JS0825121_TNF_TRAILRUNNER_TRACY_FALL_2012indd 1 82912 827 AM
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
| Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Drying in MotiontHE nEW StAnDArD in SWEAt rEMoVAL AnD tEMPErAtUrE rEgULAtionFlashDry molecular drying technology acts like your second skin pushing moisture to the surface of the fabric and eliminating it During high-endurance activities FlashDry works with your body to keep you dry cool and focused
See the real-life athlete story behind FlashDrytHEnortHFACECoMrUn
The NorTh Face aThleTe Tracy GarNeau ruNNiNG sTroNG iN Jasper NaTioNal parksTormy Trail JackeT BeTTer ThaN Nakedtrade crew + shorTs phoTo Tim kemple
JS0825121_TNF_TRAILRUNNER_TRACY_FALL_2012indd 1 82912 827 AM
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
7wwwtrailrunnerca |
I was introduced to Peter Goode 3 years ago when I attended my first Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) Monday night speed session As a group we gathered around the back of his car as he described our speed play for the night I was a total newbie to these sessions however Peter and the other veterans of the group kept the vibe light and welcoming I managed to complete that first workout and since that evening I have completed many of Peterrsquos Monday night workouts as well as participated in numerous races he has helped organize
Peter has been instrumental in numerous initiatives brought forward by the SRRA
in recent years It is through his vision that the SRRA started offering the Monday night speed work sessions He was also a member of the group that envisioned and organized the first Sask 50k Ultra and this year he has spearheaded the SRRA trail race series
Although Peter maintains a busy schedule (volunteering with the Meewasin Valley Authority and SRRA working full time as a senior environmental planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd and teaching geography part time at the University of Saskatchewan) he managed to find some time to answer a few questions
Peter Goode ndash A Running Visionaryby Chad Sawatzky
INTERVIEWS
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
8 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Trail Running Canada (TRC) Were you always a runner
Peter Goode (PG) My running goes back to the late 1970s I was initially interested in cross country skiing and used running for my summer training I also did a lot of cycling back then but very soon realized that of the three sports I really loved running I loved the freedom of going where you wanted to with weather and equipment not really being an issue
TRC Do you have any favorite spots to run or favorite training workouts
PG My favourite training spots include the Meewasin Valley trails but I love to run anywhere As for favourite workouts I do love a nice easy long run but really like a good speed session like 1km repeats or fartlek runs One of the reasons I like trail running is that it reminds me of the fartlek workouts I did with friends when we were training for cross-country ski loppets Cross-country skiing and trail running are similar in many ways
TRC How did you come to be involved with the SRRA
PG I have been involved with the SRRA since sometime in the 1980s but didnrsquot really get seriously involved with them until 1995 when I got onto the executive Since that time I have been president (7 years) and race director for the marathon the River Run the 10k Classic and created the Monday night speed work sessions the Blizzard Run-Ski-Run the SRRA trail series and helped create the Sask 50k Ultra Most recently I was vice-president for several years
TRC Where did the idea come from to organize an ultra-marathon
PG The idea for the Sask 50k Ultra developed while doing long runs with some SRRA members It led to three of us deciding to test the waters although we had to cancel the first year because we had so few entries (three from what I remember) Rather than giving up I decided to do it again the next year With help from Yvette Chartier and Lorrie Dobni (both longtime SRRA members as well) we put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had 150 entries which we considered a huge success That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo to the event
After four years of organizing the event I decided to focus more on the Trail Race Series I have been developing for the SRRA I passed the torch to Lynn Cushway who has helped me with the event in the past She is now the race director and I am helping on the race committee she has organized That gives me a bit of time to try and get the trail race series going which
We put on the first Sask 50K ultra in 2008 and had
150 entries which we considered a huge success
That year wind gusts of 80kph added some ldquofunrdquo
to the event
is my major goal for 2012 and 2013
TRC What were some of the learning curves or roadblocks that came with organizing an ultra
There have been very few roadblocks to the Ultra primarily because I wanted to keep it very simple to organize My initial philosophy was to develop an inexpensive fun event that had a challenge
The magazine iRun said it all in a short blurb they put in their magazine when they listed the first Sask 50k Ultra in their racing schedule They made a comment about our event getting back to basicsthe race organizers provide a start line and a finish line The runners do the rest
TRC Why start a trail race series
PG I wanted to start a trail series to reach out to a wide variety of runners I think the SRRA should provide a good mix of events and while I have been a long time member of the marathon committee and totally
appreciate the complexities of organizing a very large event I think the SRRArsquos role includes introducing runners to new experiences
I chose one event in 2011 mainly to test the interest That race attracted 100 runners many who had never run off pavement It was an inspiring turnout even though it happened to be the hottest day of the year In 2012 I thought 3 races might be a good start to a series For next year I plan to have a points system in place to further attract runners and to have them interested in running in all three events
TRC You have planned 3 trail races for the 2012 running season How did you choose the courses and distances
PG Choosing the routes has been based on experience with the City and its surroundings The Sutherland Beach event is within the City and very easy for runners to attend It offers some challenging terrain yet was easy to develop relatively short routes for an early spring event
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
9wwwtrailrunnerca |
Photo credits PG 7 amp 9 SRRA and Dave Stark
Chad Sawatzky is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Saskatchewan Manitoba
Peter Goode instructs runners prior to a raceCranberry Flats is close to
the city and offers a different type of trail with less trees but more rolling sand hills I am looking forward to seeing how runners like the course (5k and 10k events)
The fall wrap-up is once again at Blackstrap Provincial Park using their 5k cross-country ski course This is a challenging hilly course that I use for 5 10 and 15k events It surprised a few people last year who thought they could easily run 15k on a trail The heat and hills showed a few just how challenging trail racing can be Depending upon interest I may modify
some of the distances for next year although currently I am happy having a 15k distance being the longest
TRC What are the differences (if there are any) between organizing a trail race compared to organizing a road race
PG I think trail races are easier to organize than road races I have organized many road races and always enjoyed it but I am finding the trail races so much easier Trail races donrsquot need road closures and the number of volunteers is reduced I also plan my trail races so
that they loop back through a central point which again helps reduce the number of volunteers and water stations It also is fun for the finish line volunteers to watch the event as runners loop through
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
10 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
C
M
J
CM
MJ
CJ
CMJ
N
Ad Canada TRICAN June 12 V2pdf 1 300512 2058
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
11wwwtrailrunnerca |
Olivia Yuel ndash Prairie mountain Runnerby Chad Sawatzky
I participated in a trail running clinic through a local running store this spring Every week we had an expert guest speaker and during the last session Olivia Yuel was our presenter Olivia is a former Canadian Mountain Running team member Oliviarsquos story was inspirational because as a prairie athlete she managed to run herself onto the national mountain running team
I enlisted the help of Irene our instructor to help me encourage Olivia to do an interview Oliviarsquos humble nature needed persuading She did not believe that her story was worthy of sharing So with Irenersquos influence and some positive peer pressure Olivia agreed to answer a couple questions
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) What was your introduction to running
Olivia Yuel (OY) I joined a track club when I was 12 prior to that my memory of running was running around my elementary school playground I would get lost in the feeling of the wind breezing over my skin and blowing through my hair I could block out all sounds and thoughts I remember loving the feeling of floating along the ground and keeping my movements light and powerful I still love these same feelings
TRC What brought you to trail running
OY My best friend Irene Kokotailo brought me to trail running We had both spent many hours on the track and then the road Irene found the trails much gentler on the body and more exciting So I followed her lead and registered for races in Alberta I was hooked immediately For me running in the trails is like being in heaven
TRC What opportunities has trail running offered you
OY Trail running has allowed me diversity in my training hours of peace and quiet and even more hours of joy Although I am no longer racing the trails will continue to be my favorite place to be Fortunately I can still run for hours on end itrsquos not fast but it continues to be fun
TRC What is your most cherished accomplishment as a trail runner
OY My favorite racing moment was in Mexico I donrsquot remember the details of the race It was a mountain run which means it goes straight up I know this race was straight up and the elevation was way higher than that of Saskatchewan but I was completely comfortable with myself in that race I was a battling some illness and I was anaemic but I raced as best I could and finished completely happy
TRC Tell us a little bit about your time with the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I canrsquot claim any fame on the Canadian mountain running team It only included the race in Mexico I ended up getting what was diagnosed as ldquomountaineers diseaserdquo Which I think means that I had totally over trained and my lungs were rebelling So I have basically been forced by my body to stop racing I had entered the national championships in 2008 but was unable to race and therefore missed going to world championships also
But as a prairie girl I was thrilled to have made the team And I think it only goes to show that there are no limits there are no excuses you can race at any level no matter where you live
TRC What did a typical week of running look like when you were on the Canadian Mountain Running team
OY I ran 6 days a week and did weights 3 times per week 2 running days were interval days One of those days was ldquohillsrdquo where we would find loops so that we could get in as many rolling hills as possible in 3 to 6 min On another day we did longer intervals sometimes including a mild incline of 20 minutes I would also try to travel to Canmore or Bragg Creek to train there The remaining days were longer
runs one run being between 90 min and 2 hours
TRC What is your favorite running workout
OY Favorite running workout of all time has to be 10 x 200 meter intervals on the track
While trail running my favorite workouts were shorter intervals on single track trails
TRC What words of experience would you like to pass on the next generation of trail runners
OY I think the best words of wisdom I ever heard were keep light hearted relaxed and enjoy every running step
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
12 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Impossible2Possible (i2P) is a non-profit organization founded by ultra runner Ray Zahab and its mission is ldquoto encourage youth to reach beyond their perceived limits and to use adventure as a medium to educate inspire and empower our global community to make positive change in the worldrdquo To date i2P has taken youth on expeditions to Baffin Island Tunisia the Amazon and India This fall i2P will lead eight youth ambassadors aged 17 - 21 on the journey of their lives as they run across some of the most beautiful regions in the Republic of Botswana in Africa
During the expedition the i2P youth ambassadors will relay information back to thousands of students in classrooms around the world using interactive internetsatellite technology as they study the issues related to water shortages and food security first-hand They will also share the experience of running ultra marathons day after day and learn what it takes to execute an international expedition In this way they will be able to bring learning to a whole new level adding relevance depth and interest well beyond the range of traditional textbooks and classroom learning Through video-conferencing with classrooms writing blogs
and posting clips i2P strives to inspire youth all over the world to believe that anything is possible In this way it empowers thousands of people to make a difference in their communities and to challenge themselves with physical activity regardless of their level
Saskia Valsey is an 18 year old high school student at Gleneagle Secondary School in Port Moody BC who was chosen to be a youth ambassador this year She and the others will traverse 400 km on foot in Botswana In the understatement of the year Saskia says ldquoIn running 50 km a day wersquore certainly taking on a challengerdquo She explains ldquoBut wersquore not being set loose in Botswana unprepared either Wersquove been training under guidance and therersquos a doctor a trainer and an athletic therapist on the trip Wersquoll have a support vehicle within a certain pre-determined range the entire time and itrsquos not a race so the pace is up to us Each day the run is broken up by educational break-outs and there is a lunch break in there too as well as the learning component at the end of every day in which we will be communicating with students in classrooms all over the worldrdquo
Describing her athletic background Saskia says ldquoI
played soccer from age five until this year and have run cross-country since I started high school On a non-competitive basis Irsquove also enjoyed backpacking cross-country skiing and biking Given my love of outdoor distance sports and my desire to stretch my limits this seemed like the perfect experiencerdquo As well there is no cost to those chosen as youth ambassadors - even their immunizations are covered In this way the expedition is available to any youth regardless of finances This is also the case for schools There is no fee for classrooms to participate and even the video-conferencing software is provided for free
To train for the expedition i2P is very supportive Each month the youth ambassadors received a training schedule put together by three professional trainers This included running instructions as well as strength stability and flexibility exercises For strength training they were provided with demo videos and tracking sheets to use They also received videos on running efficiency to help them improve their form In the month leading up to the expedition they will complete final preparations with additional support from sports psychologists and nutritionists
ldquoAt the moment I run six days a week with some cross training in the mix I also go to the gym three days a week and have several flexibility exercises While Irsquove run a lot of shorter distances in the past Irsquove never trained for or raced anything over 125 km Thus the length of runs and the amount of continuous effort in my current program is new to me So far I havenrsquot experienced any trouble with the transition thoughrdquo
At the end of each week all the youth ambassadors update their trainers on their progress and ask about any concerns that may have developed ldquoTheir advice is always very helpfulrdquo she says ldquoI am grateful for their advice and support It helps me feel more confident and guides me in pushing myself to the right level Also in this way we avoid injuries as much as possible and donrsquot overuse our bodies I love being this fit and I enjoy runningrdquo
Explaining how she will fit this into her last year of high school Saskia explains ldquoI will be missing up to three weeks of classes However Irsquom taking both in-class and correspondence courses making my timetable more flexible My school administration and teachers are also open to collaborating with me in order to help me catch-up as long as Irsquom
Preparing for i2P - A Youth Ambassadorrsquos Perspectivesaskia Valseyby Isabel Ostrom
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
13wwwtrailrunnerca |
committed to working hard as well This expedition is a huge learning experience that will no doubt teach me more about everything from food security to myself to geography than anything I could study in the classroom As another benefit I will be sharing these tremendous discoveries with other students and schools They are aware of this and are very encouragingrdquo
What impresses Saskia most about i2P is that its influence reaches well beyond simply those on the expedition and its goals combine sport with advocacy education travel philanthropy and the environment In Saskiarsquos words ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watch and get excited about Plus the fact that we youth ambassadors are nearly the same age as those following the expedition makes us relatable Our ultra-marathon will convince i2Prsquos youth audience that they are truly capable of anything they put their mind and their muscles to achieving Then they will hopefully have the determination to go out and do something incredible themselves Imagine the combined impact of these thousands of individual actionsrdquo
To follow the expedition or to learn more about i2P and how you can get involved please go to impossible2possiblecom
ldquoThis expedition is an ideal way to inspire todayrsquos youth It offers an interactive on-the-ground and crazy adventure to watchrdquo
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
14 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Ellie Greenwood ndashWestern states milestonesby Jonathan Schmidt
Canadian resident and British citizen Ellie Greenwood (Team Montrail) recently won the prestigious Western States 100 mile endurance run for a second year in a row Incredibly she broke the previous womenrsquos record by 50 minutes finishing in a time of 164719 more than an hour ahead of the second place womenrsquos finisher
TrailRunningCanada (TRC) First off a big congratulations on your performance at Western States Yoursquore very inspiring to many people especially aspiring Canadian ultra runners
Yoursquove come along way in just a few short years (we first featured you after your March rsquo10 Frozen Ass victory) What has been your key to success and did you ever guess yoursquod be breaking the WS100 record
Ellie Greenwood (EG) I knew the record was a tough one and I thought it might just be reachable if I had a perfect day but only just I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally Key to my success has been solid training no injury and balancing races that complement one another
TRC You recently moved from Banff to Vancouver
Howrsquos the adjustment been (are you going to lose your altitude advantage)
EG I may lose the altitude advantage for sure but in return I get pretty much snow free trails year round Banff has spectacular running terrain but access for much of the year is limited due to snow In North Van there are still great technical and non-
technical trails good access to elevation year round and enough snow to make it fun but not limit running 12 months of the year
TRC Can you sum up the feeling of your WS100 victory in 5 words or less
EG Surprise Honour Achievement Happiness Friends
TRC Any inspiring commentsthoughts for those runners trying to follow in your footsteps
EG Choose race goals and donrsquot over race Train
towards a few key races and look at those course profiles terrain etc and train as specifically as you can Be prepared to make lsquosacrificesrsquo if you truly want to step it up to the next level Enjoy your running and training and if not analyze why you arenrsquot and change something Build up mileage gradually to avoid injury as extended training without injury is key Keep
perspective ndash yes work hard but ultimately this is for fun
TRC Whatrsquos your next race
EG Squamish 50 miler in BC in mid August
TRC Adam Campbell and a few others have recently announced they are going full time into ultra running Have you considered this Is there enough support for that to happen for you How
I did not expect to break it by the margin I did but the weather helped (cool) and I had a perfect day in all other respects both physically and mentally
do you balance a day job and 100+ mile weeks
EG It is not something I am considering right now It is something that sounds cool on the surface but I donrsquot necessarily think itrsquos all itrsquos cracked up to be Right now I am prepared to eat sleep run and work and put other things to the side as I often donrsquot have enough hours
in the day I use my time effectively and get a routine and stick to it Ask any of my friends ndash if they want to see me it usually means going for a run
Elliersquos blog can be found at elliegreenwoodblogspotca Ellie is supported by Montrail Mountain Hardwear Clif bar and Sundog Eyewear
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
15wwwtrailrunnerca |
Off the Tourist Path Epic Rockies Running in British Columbia
TRaIl SToRIES
by Sean ldquoRun Bumrdquo Blanton member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running Team
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
16 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Over the past four years Vancouver has become like a second home for me I ran my first ultra marathon ever there the Diez Vista 50k I have since returned to run lots of trails and make many friends To me Vancouver is the culmination of everything I love Mountains ocean city and sushi I live in Atlanta so I have none of those things at my grasp
I planned my most recent trip to Vancouver a little bit differently I wanted to do some races explore more of BC and really push my limits A good friend of mine Jeremy Clegg told me about this crazy mountain race called the Kusam Klimb He sent me the link and said I should come up for it I checked it out for a brief second when something caught my eye 5000 ft of elevation gain in the first 5 miles Wowsers I knew I had to do it I love mountain climbs The race was basically up in the middle of nowhere I recruited a fellow crazy trail runner to do the race with me my buddy Graham Perkins from North Vancouver
This was one race and on a Saturday This meant I could hopefully find a race for Sunday to make the trip worth my while Sure enough there was a 25km trail race at
Whistler on Sunday called 5 Peaks Comfortably Numb I signed up for both races and booked my ticket I was more than excited
I arrived in Vancouver exhausted Graham picked me up Thursday morning and we hopped on the ferry to Victoria Only one problem - I was getting strep throat All I could do was rest The epic stuff would have to wait
On Friday Graham and I drove up to Sayward a small town at the north end of Vancouver Island where it was rainy and cold We grabbed our bibs from the registration and prepared for imminent doom We drove down to the ocean to get a look at the mountain Jutting straight out of the depths of the ocean the mountain loomed above us Kusam disappeared into the clouds above How tall it was you really couldnrsquot tell I could hear the siren song inviting me to come closer
With Kusam waiting eagerly for us I didnrsquot sleep very well I was sick on top of that My goal had been to race it and try to win Unfortunately because I felt so bad there was to be no racing for me
We got to the start to see another 150 to 200 people buzzing about It was an
awesome site People from all over came to run this race I was the lone American in this gun fight As the race counted down I yelled out my patented ldquoWhooooohaaaardquo Everyone stared at me and then the gun went off
There was 2 km on the road before the start of the trail head which signalled the start of the Klimb I was top 10 to start with As soon as I hit the climb my heart rate spiked and I couldnrsquot breathe very well strep throat and swollen tonsils arenrsquot very much fun to run with I was also as hot as heck It was freezing outside for me but I still began to sweat I was now forced to hike everything We passed a waterfall and some nice view points It was a shame that it was rainy and foggy because the views were half the reason I came I struggled to keep my heart rate down I was running without a bottle so I shoved my face in the rushing streams for water I wanted the true man vs mountain experience
The Klimb never let up Steep cushioned old growth trail lead to even steeper trail The air was mountain fresh The forest around us was a fortress of towering lumber moss and small
shrubbery It was beautiful There were no real breaks on the Klimb it just oscillated between ldquovery steeprdquo and ldquoextremely steeprdquo The few metres of flat or downhill were the only runnable parts After about 45 minutes or so there were ropes to help you climb up rock faces It was an adventure of epic proportions I was smiling at this point I was tired but climbing up this stuff made me feel like a kid again
Finally I encountered a gust of cold air We were now in the clouds Not too long after we began to hit patches of snow They were sporadic until it was all snow on the top I tried to hold back realizing that I had no idea when I would hit the summit Then finally the first down hill It was a 400m long snow covered straight drop of the side of the mountain I tried to run down but it was too steep I slipped and landed on my butt and slid down the rest of the way I flew down spinning around like a car on ice
I remembered that we would hit a lake go around it and go back up to the top of another peak I looked for flagging in the fog and snow I could not find any I called out to anyone around me There was no one
The word ldquovacationrdquo means different things to different people Usually it involves relaxation and a chance to get away from the daily grind Well when yoursquore someone like me it means adventure I rest when I am at home in my bed Recently I have come to define my life in 3 simple words ldquoDO EPic sTuffrdquo I set out each day to climb my own Mt Everest When I plan a trip I go as far off the tourist path as I can and I do what makes me happy What makes me the happiest is running new trails and exploring the mountains
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
17wwwtrailrunnerca |
Parker Ridge AlbertaPhoto Sean Blanton
Where was I I kept going forward and started about 2 minutes up a near vertical embankment of snow on the other side of the frozen lake I had been wandering around for five minutes now trying to find my way I finally saw another guy lost as well We both searched for foot prints but found none A couple moments later four others arrived from the other way around the lake I was relieved Six idiots were better than one idiot I reached down to grab some Clif Shot Bloks from my pocket I felt around and there were not there I had started the race with them so where were they I figured they had gotten knocked out of my pocket on the crazy slide down the snow I was getting hungry too No water no fuel - this was not the race to go commando on
We finally found the way to the top of the mountain though it was the long and
hard way Think straight up a slippery snowy slope vs a gradual incline There were two volunteers waiting for us there to radio our number back to base They pointed us straight down the other side Another snow slide of a good time The six of us took off like banshees down the mountain You would slide for 30 seconds and then it would flatten out enough to stand upright and bomb down in the snow It was a blast It was all about who was willing to go faster on the down Who was willing to gamble more There were post holes sticks and trees It was like skiing in the backcountry Hands down the most fun a trail runner can have Three of us pulled away from the others
I followed the two guys in front of me I had my head down focusing on my footing when boom I was on the ground and in pain The guy in front of me had
grabbed a very large branch and pulled it forward to get it out of his way He had not followed the trail etiquette of yelling out ldquobranchrdquo or ldquowatch outrdquo before he let go It drilled me in the face and took me out It was so large and hit me so hard it clothes lined me I popped back up with a tad bit of blood on my face Stunned but now focused The guy apologized as I passed him I wanted to leave him in the dust to ensure that incident wouldnrsquot happen again
Just then we hit another check point and crossed over
a log bridge It was out of the snow and onto the trail We hit our first stream crossing in a while It was a raging river knee deep I shoved my head into the stream and choking on the water I got a couple of gulps It tasted like heaven - water doesnrsquot get any fresher than that At this point thirst was not my problem it was hunger I was a good 2 hours into the run and I had not had anything to eat On the down hill I bombed past everyone I had run with I hit the first real aid station I chugged Gatorade like it was my job I blasted down this gravel road for the next 4 km or so I hit the next aid station and chugged more Gatorade My energy was gone and my stomach was empty It would take 30 minutes at least for the Gatorade to have any effect on my tired muscles We were back on some perfect single track It was flat with a gradual decline This was the most runnable part and I felt so bad I had to walk
I hit the final check point with 2 km to go I was relieved It was out of the trail and onto the pavement I hit the final 800m on the road and neared the finish People applauded as I finished in 3hrs 2 mins 3 seconds but I was less than happy I was smiling because I had a blast but I felt awful because I bonked I know that if I hadnrsquot gotten lost or dropped my food I would have been 10-15 minutes faster Regardless it was a heck of a fun race especially for a guy who sees snow once a year
Editorrsquos note ndash Sean had 2 more days of ldquoepic stuffrdquo in BC To read more about Seanrsquos adventures please go to wwwRunBumcom
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
18 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
FALL SHOE REVIEW
Vivobarefoot Neo Trail | by Jonathan Schmidt
It appears that the minimalist footwear craze spurred on by the book Born to Run is here to stay The Vivobarefoot company has been around since 2003 and learned a thing or two about barefootminimalist running before most of us even knew what it was I put the Neo Trail through a couple of rigorous trail workouts and I must say I was impressed The first thing I noticed about this shoe was the incredible traction on rough and loose terrain The sole of the shoe is made of a tough flexible (recycled) rubber complete with an intricate series of lugs providing the runner with unbridled traction especially for a minimalist shoe The second thing I noticed was how incredibly light this shoe is designed The shoe also contains a toe guard preventing any unnecessary blackened or bruised toes In addition the manufacturers have somehow made this shoe feel like the most comfortable thing you ever have or will put on your feet Irsquove worn a lot of different shoes but was surprised at the slipper-like feel of this shoe immediately The Neo Trail upper is a light breathable fabric that works well with the standard lacing system The lacing system may be my only partial complaint There was way too much shoe lace for shoe Nevertheless the Neo Trail is everything a runner would want in a minimalist barefoot trail shoe ndash super lightweight breathable comfortable and with plenty of traction for all types of trails
If you are not familiar with barefoot or minimalist shoes you should work into these shoes (or similar shoes) over a few weeks or months
MSRP $115 Supplied by In-Sport Fashions
Merrell Mix Master Aeroblock | by Jonathan Schmidt
In the trail running community Merrell has been known to produce top-notch niche footwear such as the popular minimalist Merrell trail glove Merrell is less known for the production of high-mileage footwear that could serve a runner through a 25k 50k or 100k Merrell appears to be trying to change all that with the Mix Master a solid lower profile (4mm drop) shoe intended to serve you well on both the trail and the road
The Mix Master provides the basic elements of a traditional shoe but without the added cushioning (and weight) which still allows a more mid and forefoot strike For those runners wanting to transition to more of a midfoot strike this is a great lightweight shoe to start the progression In testing this shoe performed quite well The upper is extremely comfortable and was worn with and without socks with equal performance The toe box is roomy with plenty of kick protection from rocks and other debris The 35mm rounded lugs on the sole are sufficient for most occasions but they didnrsquot perform as well as more agressive lugs typically present on trail shoes I know the purpose of this shoe is to mix it up between the road and trail but throw on some even more aggressive lugs and Irsquom sure road runners wouldnrsquot even notice
If design and style matters then Merrell has a winner here The upper is crisscrossed with reflective designs which provides a classy while still subtle design element suitable on and off the trail
MRSP $140 with Aeroblock MRSP $130 without Aeroblock
MINIMAL
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
19wwwtrailrunnerca |
The North Face Single Track II | by Joanne Schmidt
When I received the Single Track IIrsquos my first reaction was ldquoWow these are prettyrdquo Now after almost 500 miles of running on a variety of trail from coulees to rocky single track to mud I can say these shoes are ideal for all types of trail running
These shoes felt great right out of the boxmdashthey were never stiff and there was no breaking them in Weighing in at 96 oz (270 g) they felt light and soft As promised I felt they allowed me to hit a natural stride and feel the ground more than in my previous trail shoes With the 20 mm forefoot and 10 mm heel I felt more in tune with the trail and was able to better read the terrain
What I found exceptional about these shoes was the grip Due to the Tenacious Griptrade rubber outsole I had no fear of wiping out and let myself fly down slippery descents Another selling point was the tongue scree collar As someone who really dislikes wearing gaiters I welcomed this extra feature which did indeed keep most grit out of my shoes
The only drawback I saw in these shoes was that I didnrsquot feel they were stiff enough to protect my feet on real technical rocky terrain that I faced on my most recent run in Montana where at times I felt rocks through the shoes That said this is the only race I have had this season where I experienced this For the most part I feel the shoes have protected my feet with what North Face calls ldquoSnake Plate technologyrdquo which according to their website ldquoreduces stone bruising while retaining the shoesrsquo flexibilityrdquo I think it speaks volumes that I went out and bought a second pair I highly recommend these shoes and it also doesnrsquot hurt that they are also quite pretty
MRSP $11000
Columbia Peakfreak | by Chad Sawatzky
Inspired by the 3 Sisters Marathon in Oregon Columbia created the Peakfreak Low Outdry as a hybrid running-hiking shoe with additional support for larger runners and hikers These shoes offer an excellent first impression great styling and rugged good looks
My first test for these shoes was to give them a taste of Saskatchewan hills out at Blackstrap Provincial Park I headed out early in the day and the long grass was still covered in dew Columbiarsquos Outdry system kept my feet dry even when the outside of the shoe was visibly wet These shoes provided good grip and stability going up and down hills during testing The strength of these shoes is on the climbs even up in mountain terrain the outsole grabs wet grass roots rocks and mud and keeps you moving upward The griprsquos performance is also impressive on downhills with no slipping and sliding I also enjoyed the fact that later that day I joined some friends at a local pub and received numerous compliments on the shoes Partnered with a pair of jeans these shoes effortlessly made the transition from on the trail to out on the town I used these shoes a few more times while going on nature walks with my older children on the trails by the Saskatchewan River The shoes remained comfortable and performed well on the single-track The sole is thick enough that you do not feel the rocks or roots underfoot and the toe cap provides good protection against unseen tree roots
Columbia states that these shoes are a hybrid shoe that combines running shoe swiftness with the technical performance of a hiker I agree that they are a great hybrid but in my opinion they remain more of an approach or short distance shoe than a true trail runner However I am pleased with the looks and the versatility of these shoes
MRSP $14500
CUSHIONING
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
20 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
1MY ST SiniSTER
by Joanne Schmidt723456
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
21wwwtrailrunnerca |
MY ST SiniSTER7
Joanne Schmidt comes through a transition point during Sinister 7 Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
22 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I sat down in the shade of the inflatable finish line caked in mud salt blood tights ripped in several places and I felt the tears welling up in my eyes I caught my breath and tried to contain them This was the most cathartic thing I had ever done in my life 24 hours 31 minutes and 53 seconds before this moment I had left the town of Blairmore in a pack of runners completely unaware of what was before me I couldnrsquot possibly have comprehended what was to come To be honest the tale comes back to me in images and snapshots of moments when I left the seclusion of my head and tried to fully grasp the experience It often felt like I was hovering just outside my body only to suddenly occupy it once again
Rather than experiencing the race in stages I experienced it as a series of realizations I can barely recall which leg was which who was where when I stopped seeing people who had been fixtures throughout the race but had suddenly vanished where I hurt and where I felt joy With a 30 finish rate there was constant flux around me One minute someone was there and then they were not I was so focused on just going forward that I often missed their exit
This was only the second race in my entire life of 100 km or more with the previous one being only a few weeks before The goal was to finish intact and with the temperatures hovering near 27 C I knew hydration and running with restraint would be essential to survive the day The Sinister 7 race in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass Alberta
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
23wwwtrailrunnerca |
covers approximately 148 kilometres Yes itrsquos a long way to be sure but for some reason (ignorance perhaps) I never had any doubts about the distance My biggest fears were getting lost (I made my obligatory wrong turn in Leg 2 I think adding 10 minutes of fun to the race) and running in the dark The thought of doing this unnerved me but running in the dark ended up being the thing that revitalized me
I found calm and tranquility in the light of the most yellow moon I can ever recall joy seeing those green glowsticks and so much fun running with my two pals Cheryl and Lourdes throughout the night The climbs seemed less steep and the miles shorter in the halo cast by my headlamp and the sounds of chatter just ahead of me The only points in the race that actually made me doubt surviving were the icy cold streams of Leg 5 In spots the entire trail was submerged for metres and the frigidity took my breath away and sent shooting pain through my feet I lost all feeling only to regain it
in time to run through some more It was torturous Then relay runners would glide past me on fresh legs and shout out encouragement but I just could not move that fast anymore especially on aching feet Perhaps worse were the sudden pits of mud that sprang up from the dark and sucked me in at times up to my knees Then to extract myself and try to ignore the heaviness that encapsulated my shoes became a test Alas I never felt defeatedmdashnot by the heat the distance the climbs or the exposed and rugged roads
But that was hours into the race Let me start from the beginning and Irsquoll try not to draw it out as long as the race actually was
Leg One actually escapes me I ran with my friend Margaret for some time as we ran beside the Frank Slide and then up a long gravel road before hitting some trails where I drifted deep within my head This leg didnrsquot really register at all I know I ran into a fallen tree as runners were packed tightly across the
Joannersquos battle scars from her first attempt at Sinister Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
24 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
pathway and were often being squeezed I remember the familiar burn but looked down and dismissed the scrape with a glance
Leg two was fascinating and surreal The sky was a most brilliant blue and we ran through a burn scar for what seemed like ages The ashen colours of the trees and the rocks scattered across the paths made me feel like I was running on the moon This leg involved a lot of climbing over deadfall and I did see one runner casualty which made my stomach drop But they leapt up unscathed and we carried on
I tried to inhale my surroundings I would say aloud to anyone around memdashldquoWow the flowers are gorgeousrdquo just to ensure that I myself actually acknowledged them I saw mountains in the distance but was too naiumlve to realize thatrsquos where I was headed
I just ran and kept running without ever allowing myself to think of what was left to be done Eventually we descended down some muddy overgrown single track and I found myself a little frustrated at being slowed by a long line of runners ahead but reminded myself of the hours of running yet to be done I listened to them chatting and contributed the odd comment but mostly concentrated on not falling I made a wrong turn on this leg and lost about 10 minutes and when I found the right way I was aghast at the huge red arrow I had missed directing the way to T2
T2 was overwhelming My husband led me out of the chaos to our spot under the shade of some kind crewrsquos RV I tried not to linger long but due to my disorganization spent a lot of time looking for things I had stashed in various bins and bags Off on Leg 3 and to what many
consider the toughest part of the race It was hot and it went relentlessly up and down and up and down and all I could think about for the entire scorching leg was cold coke and popsicles Towards the end I became completely confused as we were climbing back up descents we had already run down but I had almost no recollection of them I canrsquot remember finishing this leg but I do remember that my loving crew my husband Daren had a slurpee waiting for me at T3
As far as Leg 4 goes well I was tired but the heat was waning and although it was dull I found some renewed energy running in the ditch along the highway towards the end of the leg It had started on this massive ldquoski hillrdquo that made me reconsider my own sanity then followed endless miles of ATV road before winding downhill to the highway There a truck
waited with someone to show us the way In the back of the truck I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Wayne (Gaudet featured in Issue 2 of TRC) an accomplished runner who declared that he was pulling out Knowing he had never DNFrsquoed I appreciated the gravity of his situation and was glad he made that decision He gave me a hug and some encouragement and then oddly I was directed to run across the highway but to ldquoWatch for vehiclesrdquo This struck me as funny as I couldnrsquot outsprint a scooter But I finally got there and saw Daren Wayne Jen (who had also pulled out) Lourdes and Cheryl who cheered me in I chugged back some veggie chicken soup and changed my shirt Daren and my unofficial crew looked after
Surviving Sinister is all about the support from friends and family Photo Credit Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
25wwwtrailrunnerca |
me as I was a bit stunnedhelliprdquoHerersquos your bear sprayrdquo(ldquoDo I really need itrdquomdashldquoYes take your headlamprdquo) ldquoDonrsquot forget your polesrdquo ldquoWait you forgot your hydration packhelliprdquo And I was off
Leg 5 was long and steep and dark and wet Lourdes and Cheryl who were running Legs 5 6 and 7 together eventually caught me and I ran with or just behind them for the last 49 kms It was nice I seldom run with anyone I listened to their stories had some laughs and fed off their energy Their bobbing headlamps up ahead made me feel secure Occasionally I would see their headlamps redirect towards me as if making sure I was still there I liked this leg in a masochistic way
Arriving at T5 felt like arriving at a beach party and all that
was missing was the sand The way was lit with bright lights and strings of green glowsticks people were camped out in lawn chairs and there was food and tents everywhere ldquoThis is nicerdquo I said to my poor worried sleep deprived husband I didnrsquot linger despite the festive mood I knew at T4 that I would finish and at this point with two shorter legs to go the cool crisp night air and my pals running just ahead of me it became a certainty I do not remember anything about Leg 6 except mountain silhouettes the stars the setting moon the rising sun and some magic tortellini given to me by Lourdes
And then the last leg It began with a steep climb and a rising sun that cast a brilliant pink shadow against the backlit mountains then wound up and down some
rocky trails towards home I couldnrsquot run downhill anymoremdashevery muscle hurt When we got to the road I could see the sportsplex and my salvation but we were cruelly taken behind on a winding road for a couple more kilometersmdashup () and then around a bend up a small trail and down to the finish This made me mad I was ready to be done so I shocked myself and started running and ran the whole way in to the finish
And so on my chair bottle of wine in my hand a ldquosinnerrdquo friends and husband congratulating me I tried not
to sob Just hours before I had declared I would never do this again There was no need after all I had proven that I could do it in some of the worst conditions imaginable and in a field where just 30 finished But as I sat there my resolve began to falter and my mind change I could do this again maybe I will but first I am so doing a hundred miler
Joanne Schmidt is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Alberta
Runners tackle some of the many obstacles at Sinister 7Photo Credit Joanna Ford
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
26 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
WiSDOM fROM KnEE KnACKERby Sasha Brown
I vividly remember the day I found myself by pure chance in North Vancouverrsquos Deep Cove when a little race called the Knee Knacker was finishing As the runners crossed the line they look filthy and exhausted yet elated I asked some spectators about it and they were quick to tell me that this event took racers from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver across the 50 kilometre Baden Powell trail to Deep Cove in North Vancouver That was 1998 I was a road-runner and thought to myself Who in their right mind would ever force their mind and body to endure such torture I remember adamantly saying aloud that though I did enjoy running I would never do something like that
I thought about that day and that proclamation recently as I laced up my shiny new royal blue North Face Hayasas and had a sleep-deprived Brian drive me and a friend from Calgary to the start line of the 24th annual Knee Knacker Trail Run (wwwkneeknackercom) For the fourth time in the past seven years I pinned on my race number lined up at the porta potties chatted with other local trail runners and made my way to the
6 am starting line There were many familiar faces friends with whom I train those I simply see in the trails or at races and those I knew by reputation There was a palpable pre-race buzz of excitement and nervousness with everyone aware of what lay ahead
I always find that when I attempt to explain this race I am at a loss I usually start with ldquoitrsquos not the distance itrsquos only eight kms more than a marathon ndash itrsquos the terrainrdquo Well a few days before this yearrsquos race another participant (thank you David Parker) posted an elevation profile He has confirmed that the scales are the same and that nothing has been enhanced It should provide some perspective about what makes this trail race among the more gruelling despite its relatively short distance (in the admittedly-skewed world of trail running) The elevation profile is without a doubt impressive now imagine this with gnarly roots boulder fields snow crazy off camber descents and just about everything else a mountainous trail race can throw at you
Before I talk about the day itself I want to underscore just how amazing this event
Coming into Cleveland Dam Photo Credit Brady Fleguel
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
27wwwtrailrunnerca |
is First though the Knee Knacker is wildly popular nobody is getting rich off the proceeds which are instead donated to charitable causes This yearrsquos worthy recipients were North Shore Search and Rescue and I personally could not think of a more deserving and fitting organization
No race could function without volunteers but there is something special about the hundreds who give up their time for the Knee Knacker The volunteer to runner ratio is more than one to one think about that - there are more vollies than racers I have always found that each and every one seems genuinely happy to be helping and is invested in each participantrsquos experience The spectators are no different I have not participated in any other trail
race with a comparable level of community involvement and support
After we gathered at the start line and were on our way the first few minutes of adrenalin and jockeying for position soon died down and runners fell into comfortable paces before reaching the calf-achingly cruel ascent up Black Mountain My race plan is always pretty simple and is the same no matter the distance I want to go as hard as I can while still enjoying the event and not hurting too much If I feel really good I go a bit harder if I feel terrible I slow down The climb up Black Mountain was as it always is steep and hard but that day it was also unusually hot and humid even at that early hour I donrsquot imagine there are many running races that climb so
steeply and steadily from the start but cresting the summit of Eagle Bluffs with its stunning views is always invigorating and helps make the effort worth it
After Black Mountainrsquos summit the descent is mixed and includes a quad-pounding crushed gravel path that parallels Cypressrsquo ski hill I love running downhill and can usually attack this section but that day I experienced some odd visual sensations I wondered if I was having a visual migraine or heat exhaustion It was as though the aliens from the movie predator were dancing around in my periphery It became increasingly difficult to focus on the ground in front of me I made it to the first checkpoint and could barely focus but grabbed some gels and carried on
I knew that if the symptoms did not fade I would choose to drop out I have never DNFrsquod but Irsquove come to recognize that there is a time and place for making that decision I was just recovering from an untimely cold and also had recent cardiology appointments on my mind I had to be semi-aware of my heart and any other possible symptoms (this is a story for another day) I wanted to be smart and I wanted to be true to my ldquoenjoy the racerdquo philosophy but of course I didnrsquot really want to DNF Luckily this symptom subsided as I made my way to Hollyburn area of Cypress and then into one of my favourite sections the Brotherrsquos Creek area During this section one of my hands suddenly went very numb which scared me and
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
28 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
again I made the resolution that if it continued I would drop out at the half way point By the time I pulled in to Cleveland Dam however I was feeling good but had decided to ease off a bit As I was hugged and cheered by friends I told Brian that I was planning to chill for the remainder of the race I didnrsquot ask how many women were ahead of me I didnrsquot care I knew Irsquod finish and I knew that Irsquod enjoy it
After Cleveland Dam there is a punishing climb up Nancy Greene Road followed by arguably one of the most difficult sections of the Baden Powell - the trail is steep and demanding runners are exhausted yet know there is still a long way to go After
grunting through this lengthy technical section the trail dips into the Lynn Valley with a lovely gradual descent down Varley trail followed by double track up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest This is the three-quarter point and I was tired but still feeling good I think Brian told me I was in 6th and I could immediately do a roll-call and figure out who was ahead I had nothing to be ashamed of the first 5 girls are forces
Next is a descent in to the canyon and a steep climb out with only one more climb to go I run these trails often and felt comfortable and at home here I had looked at my watch and knew that this was not going
to be a PR day but my time was solid There was only one more hill the infamous Seymour Grind ahead of me Though Irsquod essentially been running alone since the top of Black Mountain I was lucky enough to have company up part of that last climb of the day as Ellie Greenwood and her running partner had pre-run the course and were now hikingwalking it and graciously cheering on racers The top of the Seymour Grind is a special place psychologically Deep Cove is a net down from that point and it feels close A debilitating side stitch made it difficult to fully give into gravity but I managed to keep moving past Seymour Parkway Indian River Road Quarry Rock up the terribly
excruciating climbs that give this section a reputation as having ldquothe most uphill in a downhill sectionrdquo a stumble and a bloody knee out into the sunlight and into brilliant Deep Cove Six and a half hours after starting my race was done I was filthy and exhausted yet elated
Six and a half hours of solitude of thinking of being hyper-aware of all physical sensations of making my peace with a DNF of trying to balance effort and comfort There were highs and lows as there always is It wouldnrsquot be a race without them I love the places my brain takes me as I run in races It is a different place than during training or fun-runs This
Runners cresting one of the many hills on the Knee Knacker course
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
29wwwtrailrunnerca |
time I pondered what it is that drives us as runners and as racers What causes us to sign up for races to actually show up at start lines and then to push ourselves to the finish Irsquove chosen not to sign up for races Irsquove signed up for races and then decided not to do them and now Irsquove considered DNFing
I have however learned to ldquonever say neverrdquo though in truth my current motto is ldquoI will never do a 100 milerrdquo
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
Crossing the finish line with a big smile
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
30 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
Photos from the inaugural Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Jason Loutitt leads out the pack Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
31wwwtrailrunnerca |
Ellie Greenwood wins the womenrsquos event at the Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler leaders Jason Schlarb (left) and Jason Loutitt (right) part way through Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
32 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
(above) Arcrsquoteryx Squamish 50 miler winner Jason Loutitt heads for the finish (bottom) Aaron Heidt cruises through the beautiful course Photo Credit Arcrsquoteryx
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
33wwwtrailrunnerca |
ExPlORinG THE PEMi lOOPThe New-Hampshire White Mountains are my favourite playground Climbing beyond the trees and enjoying the beautiful vistas are one of my motivations Going as fast as I can in this environment is a passion Hers is the story of my last run on Pemi Loop a long hiking trail usually done over many dayshellip
As the trailhead is a 2-hour drive from my home I left Friday to be at my best early Saturday morning After a good nightrsquos sleep in my car I started at 8am sharp In the past I completed this loop in 14 hours and my goal this time was to be under 10 hours if everything went as planned
Traveling counter clockwise the first 8 km are run on an
by Michael Caron translated by Heather Davis
old railroad The rails have been removed and this flat ground makes for a perfect warm-up before climbing
The climb to the first summit Bondcliff is long but not too steep I ran many sections and when it was too steep power walking brought me up Power walking is really efficient You just have to make energetic small steps and push on walking poles or like me on my thighs
From Bondcliff summit the view is amazing in all directions I could view all the summits that I would traverse that day Itrsquos always difficult to imagine that later in the day I will be on the ridge that forms this faraway horizonhellip
It was just windy enough to stay cool and my body reacted well to the task Itrsquos always like thathellipIn the beginning itrsquos all good But in such long projects just the beginning is a matter of hours
I linked many summits without too much fatigue I must have been in better shape than I was thinking and I had this loop in mind for so longhellip
From Southtwin I made a safe descent This trail was really steep and made of uneven big rocks I began to realize my state of fatiguehellipAnd I immediately thought about something else I thought about the Galehead hut situated at the base of the slope
I didnrsquot stay long at the hut just time to refill my 2 liter hydration pack Stopping for a little talk with the hikers was attractive But I was in a time trial that I had dreamed about for so long so I told myself ldquoHurry uprdquo Just stopping there and removing my little pack gave me a sense of relaxing time Nevertheless no more than 5 minutes had passed while I was at the hut
Now I was heading to the hardest part of the whole loop Mount Garfield is isolated between two low altitude parts of the trail made up of a few abrupt drops which are often slippery from streaming water I passed 3 people who asked me where they
On Bondcliff with view of a ridge that is part of the Pemi-loop Photo Credit Michel Caron
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
34 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
were They were uncertain if they had passed the trail they were supposed to take We looked at my map and I told them where we werehellipBad news for them they had walked 15km in the wrong direction As they were part of a larger group the other hikers tried to catch up with them in front but they were in back I started running again telling them that I would inform the others if I met them I never saw themhellip
This time my passage in what I call ldquoDevilrsquos Houserdquo was run fast Itrsquos so low beside Garfield that it seems to be under sea level
The next summit was Mount Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge that I know well and that I enjoy so much for running Going up to Lafayette I passed by many false summits Even if I knew about these false summits it was still demoralizing Again
I had to chase away these negative thoughts to not go in this direction in my head After more than half way and again higher than the trees I enjoyed the cooling wind in my back I begin to realize that at the rhythm that I run now it was possible that I would finish the loop in under 9 hours I counted and recounted as 9 hours seemed impossible (for me because I know the record is 6h30hellip) I ended up thinking that my mental arithmetic was OK as I stood on top of Mount Lafayette that big and beautiful pyramid of rocks
Lafayette was my highpoint of the day and I tried to convince myself that it was all downhill from there but the reality was that 4 summits were still between me and the
On Mount Lincoln part of the Franconia ridge and the Ap-palachian trail Photo Credit Michel Caron
On Garfield looking at the Franconia ridge The last summit of the day is Flume visible on the extreme left of the picture Photo Credit Michel Caron
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
35wwwtrailrunnerca |
trailhead at Lincoln Woods As I resumed running I saw 3 friends from Sherbrooke A little chat and I started again loaded from this energy
I probably started too fast and I could feel the pain of cramps in both my legs Since about two hours I had been close to cramping I took a Gastrolite my second of the day It was too late and I couldnrsquot go forward anymore I stopped and stretched my thighs and calves I was unable to sit because the moment there was no weight on my legs the cramps doubled in intensity Five minutes of stretching and I was able to walk and gradually resume running From this moment I could only run in small regular steps A long jump and the cramps would be instantly back with uncontrollable spasms
I was still on the beautiful ridge and close to cramping when I drank my remaining water I knew that it was part of the game with such a limited water supply but I had hoped to finish the ridge before being dry I decided to take a third Gastrolite and sucked the bottom of my bag to help ingest this powder
One more time I gradually ran The cramps were there but manageable It would be like that until the end of the runhellip
The descent to Lincoln Woods trail seemed never-ending despite the fact that
Pemi-loop in numbers51km
Elevation gain 2800m
Pass by 10 summits
Pass by two huts
In 2005 Backpacker magazine listed the Pemi Loop in the 2 spot among
ldquoAmericarsquos Hardest Dayhikesrdquo
I ran fast It had been one hour since I had eaten my reserve of energy without hydration All this combined with a sustained effort for many hours I knew that the recuperation process would be longhellip
I did my best to run the last part of the trail the flat trail on the old railroad I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30 Nothing existed except the trail and me
After traversing the suspension bridge I stopped my chrono which said exactly 8 hours 25 minutes As I stopped I was as euphoric as I was cramped My legs had given everything they had and my head had asked for more and morehellip
Michel Caron is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for Quebec amp East
I was really surprised and happy to see the numbers on my watch I was going to finish in under 8h30
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
36 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
I had never been to Sun Peaks Resort just outside of Kamloops in BCrsquos interior and felt lucky to be involved in Dirty Feet ndash Trail Racesrsquo 16k mountain run which was held there the weekend of September 8th I was pleasantly surprised by this alpine village the expression ldquohidden gemrdquo is overused but it applies perfectly to the summer version of this resort Though a mere 45 minute drive away it is consistently much cooler than Kamloops and the air is a crisp mountain air The drive itself is stunning as the road passes through rolling farmland en route to the resort (it was in fact so beautiful we decided to repeat the experience by road bike on our last day)
DIRTY FEET amp SUN PEAKS by Sasha Brown
Sun Peaks has been increasingly attracting summer visitors with their many activities and events including the Dirty Feet Mountain Run Dirty Feet was created by Grace and Phil Hiom almost 3 years ago with the goal of increasing fitness and introducing people to trail running by creating a running community and events with a variety of distances to challenge and support even those new to the trails Three years later their vision has been fully realized with an assortment of heartwarming success stories of participantsrsquo progress over the years and a race calendar that includes six popular trail running events xc mountain biking and snowshoe races
This yearrsquos Sun Peakrsquos event started with a 5 km loop through the nordic ski trails and village (which was also the course for the 5 km race) before sending us steeply up bike-park trails After about 6 km of climbing up Mt Tod runners were greeted by the seasonrsquos remaining wildflowers incredible views and festive music urging everyone to carry on to the mid-mountain station 600 metres above the village Racers then had gravity on their side plummeting down fun technical quad-busting single track trails for the remaining 4 km to the finish The course highlighted the variety of trails available was incredibly well organized and flagged and challenged
all runners regardless of their strengths
Recognizing the incredible array of trails as well as the convenience and comfort provided by the resortrsquos accommodations and amenities Dirty Feet with Sun Peaksrsquo enthusiastic support has recently announced that next yearrsquos event will include a 50k ultrarelay event as well as the 516 km mountain run The idea is to host a running weekend in which racers can participate in a leg of the relay (lift-assisted as necessary) or complete the 50k as a solo on one day and run the following day in either the 5 or 16 km event Runners can also participate in only one day of activity if they prefer
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
37wwwtrailrunnerca |
The beauty of the plan is that in the evenings runners can relax at a spa enjoy delicious food at a restaurant or pub or simply kick back in their hotel rooms to recover When not cheering family and friends can stop at one of the numerous cafes explore the shops or visit the Farmersrsquo Market that occupies the village every Sunday
The Dirty Feet events should not be missed but Sun Peaks is also a worthy destination for trail runners throughout the sun-filled summer months The nordic ski (mostly double-track) trails provide opportunities for those looking to run in the refreshing mountain air and the lift-accessed hiking trails and new xc mountain bike trails (which can also be accessed via access roads) offer some of the earliest alpine running trails in BC It would be easy to amuse oneself or seriously train for days in the multitude of trails I have run in many places on many trails and I look forward to returning to Sun Peaks Resort to further explore especially as they have plans to expand their network of single-track Next summer Irsquoll aim for a visit in spectacular wildflower season as well as for Dirty Feetrsquos 50k weekend
Be sure to check out Dirty Feet at wwwdirtyfeetca and Sun Peaks Resort at wwwsunpeaksresortcom
Photo credits Dirty Feet Race Series amp Sun Peaks Resort
Sasha Brown is The North Face Canadian Trail Ambassador for British Columbia
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
38 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
LoCAL TRaIlS
saskatoon Road Runnerrsquos Trail Race 2
cRANbERRY fLATs
races I have run the scenery was breathtaking I even overheard a few competitors commenting that they did not realize this little gem of a natural park existed mere minutes from the city
Participants had the choice of doing 2 laps of the loop to complete the 5km race or running 4 laps to complete the 10km course The faster runners finished the 5km course in just over 25 minutes and the more
fleet of foot completed the 10km course in just over 40 minutes
As for this SK Clydesdale trail runner I remained consistent in my time for the 10k distance For some reason I just cannot break the 60 minute barrier Oh well I still have Septemberrsquos trail race to push for that elusive time
runners but one of his main goals was to attract new participants From what I could tell many of the faces in the group of roughly 60 participants were veteran runners (who have some experience trail running) but there were fresh faced rookies in the crowd too (my cousin and my mother being two of these rookies) Judging by the smiles and conversation after the race most participants veteran and rookie alike are looking forward to competing in the third race in the series taking place in September
Peter and Lynn plotted a challenging 25km course loop The loop offered single track a couple hills one long uphill lots of sand and plenty of sun As with most trail
For the 2012 summer racing season the Saskatoon Road Runners Association (SRRA) organized a series of three trail races for Saskatoon and area The second of these races was held Saturday July 21st at Cranberry Flats This venue is a popular beach and off leash dog park south of Saskatoon situated along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River
Peter Goode and Lynn Cushway were the lead organizers for this race (Lynnrsquos mother even made the delicious finish line biscuits) When I had previously spoken with Peter he commented that he was hoping that the trail races would entice new runners to the sport He wanted to offer a new challenge to veteran
by Chad Sawatzky
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
39wwwtrailrunnerca |
by Keith Iskiw
WhAT IS ThE FUTURE oF TRAIL RUNNINg IN CANADAThe Canadian trail running landscape has been changing over the last few years As growth in the sport continues more and more I look to the stories mythology and icons of European trail and mountain racing and wonder who is documenting our Canadian history and mythology Who are our running icons not unlike our stars of hockey or football that will inspire us to head out into the wild places of our vast country What does the future hold for our sport
Phil Villeneuve nordic and trail running specialist for Salomon in Canada made an excellent point that for our community to grow we need to get away from the idea that we need to trail run for ldquofitnessrdquo In Europe trail and mountain running is often paramount to religion and is seen more as a social activity more so than a means of cross-training
I think about the popularity of Spartan races and the like (obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty) and although I am loath to say it they may be on to something These races are as much about the event itself then the actual race Having large scale trail running events with depth at an elite level would not only provide athletes opportunities to race with the elite runners
of the sport (which as a side note is the unique aspect of our sport that makes racing so inviting) it is also a way of celebrating our sport and our achievement regardless of outcome
iRunFarcom in recent years has become the touchstone for what can be done with social media for our sport I really took notice with the build up for the Zegama Sky Marathon that took place in the spring Bryon Powell and his team provided in-depth reports on the elite runners as well as ldquolive coveragerdquo that gave fans of the sport an outlet to discuss and interpret the actions occurring miles away This leads me to believe that in a country as vast as ours events that have depth in participation at the elite and recreational level can not only bring in media attention from local media outlets but also from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook
The Canadian Death Race in Alberta Ultimate XC in Quebec and the newly minted Meet Your Maker in British Columbia are all prime examples of events that bring in large quality fields that have the necessary combination of factors to bring such attention to our sport With the help of the race directors and a mainly
Canadian running media service (like trailrunnerca) we can duplicate what others are doing in order to shrink our country and bring these and other events like it to focus It would give fans inside views into races creating the very mythology we lack Sharing extraordinary events together
is what will galvanize us as a community
Some may want to deter a move towards this style of event ArcrsquoteryxSalomon athlete Adam Campbell sees it as a possible divide between races that want to remain grassroots and those that want to become an
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
40 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
ldquoeventcelebrationrdquo of the sport Whether or not this is happening is hard to tell but it is my experience that the community is ready to experience as Adam puts it ldquobig time races with inspiring coursesrdquo even if only indirectly
ldquoBe the change you want to see in the worldrdquo I think Gandhi said it Passion in
the end will be the force for change The running community in Canada has passion in spades so I feel confident that trail running in Canada has an exciting future ahead
Photo credits Michel Caron
Keith Iskiw is The North Face trail ambassador for Ontario He trains in Kingston Ontario and recently won the Haliburton 50 mile race for a second straight year
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
41wwwtrailrunnerca |
uLTRA TRAiL RuNNiNG NEWs fROm cANADAscOTT GARRETT 12 buckLEs iN 12 mONThs(pictured above)
To celebrate his 50th birthday Scott Garrett from Barrie Ontario began 2012 with the goal of finishing twelve 100 mile races in 12 months At the time of publication he had finished nine of the twelve including a PR at NJ Ultra Series in a time of 2108 When asked about the toughest parts of the goal Garrett said the Mohican Trail 100 was the hardest due to extreme heat while Burning River was the most scenic Scott vowed to stop at the 50 mile mark during the Mohican Trail 100 but thankfully his pacers coming all the way from Toronto to Ohio arrived just in time to meet him at the halfway mark and push him to a well deserved finish You can follow Scottrsquos progress at www12in12ca
cODY GiLLis ATTEmPTs bRucE TRAiL sPEED REcORD fOR chARiTY
Ontario runner Cody Gillis is attempting to break the fastest known time to complete the 885km Bruce Trail which runs through southern Ontario The current record is approximately 13 days 10 hours and 51 minutes held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi Cody intends to begin his trek on September 25 and average approximately 80 kilometres per day through this very technical trail His projected finishing date is October 5 Cody is raising money for the pediatrics unit of Headwaters Health Care Centre You can follow his attempt and donate online at wwwendtoendchallengecom
GARY RObbiNs is bAck iN RAcE fORm AT uTmb WhiLE ELLiE GREENWOOD cONTiNuEs TO AmAzE
After a long injury-prone delay elite ultra runner Gary Robbins (Montrail) from British Columbia is finally back racing He finished an extremely tough weather-shortened UTMB course in France placing 53rd place among a field of the worldrsquos best ultra trail runners Robbins is perhaps best known for his 6th place finish at Western States 2010 or his Hawaii Hurt victory that same year
Ellie Greenwood who is now also training in the lower mainland of British Columbia continues to storm the international ultra scene Earlier this year she blasted the womenrsquos Western States record by 50 minutes came second at Comrades in South Africa and then went over to France and won the 100km UTMB-CCC proving it doesnrsquot matter what continent she races on she can still win
WAYNE GAuDET bEATs his OWN 24-hR REcORD
At the world 24 hour championships in Katowice Poland in early September Wayne Gaudet (see Issue 2) surpassed his own M55 record of 206230km in 2011 with a run of 218528km In a world class field including Mike Morton (who just beat Scott Jurekrsquos USA record) and Yiannis Kouros Wayne was 47th male
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
42 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
The North face single Track iiby Joanne Schmidt
The North face Womenrsquos GTD short-sleeve
This running shirt is extremely lightweight and comfortable It moves easily and I liked the sleeves which are short but not restrictive as I have found some of the other ldquowomenrsquos cap sleevesrdquo I felt that the shirt did indeed dry quickly and didnrsquot hold onto moisture due to Vaporwick technology I ran 10 km on a very warm morning and still found it felt like I had just put it on It also has a high degree of breathability something which has seemed to reduce odour just as The North Face claims I think this top would be perfect to run in from spring to mid-fall and I highly recommend adding it to your racing arsenal
It comes in a variety of colours although my favorite is the one I havemdasha two-toned blue with reflective highlights UV protection is always an added bonus particularly when running great distances where one is unable to reapply sunscreen on sweaty skin
These capri tights are the perfect thing to wear for a cool spring day or a nice fall run I found they were snug without being too tight and felt almost like a second skinmdashnice and light and well-ventilated I also found them very supportive due to the compression fit while still retaining a great deal of flexibility which I appreciated as some compression wear can feel restrictive I found running in them I barely noticed I had anything on
I did find that they kept me cool and dried quickly I liked the pocket as wellmdasha nice size for a couple gels and some salt tablets I like that it has a zipper as I have a hard time getting things in and out of the pockets that simply secure items by using an overlapping fabric design (actually one of my pet peeves) Other nice features of these tights were the reflective piping and mesh panels which actually did make a big difference as I never felt sweaty despite putting in a hard effort
The North face GTD capri Tights
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
43wwwtrailrunnerca |
$500win
trail runningTO SPEND ON
GEAREnter at liveouttherecomwin-500
Enter to win $500 to spend on trail running gear apparel and footwear at Live Out Therecom Canadarsquos Outdoor Source
Just visit liveouttherecomwin-500 to enter Donrsquot dawdle contest closes October 31 2012
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
44 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
REVIEWS
Wear What Adam Wears Arcrsquoteryx Reviews
Visio fl Jacket - Gore active shell jacket (pictured above amp left)
As a relatively young com-pany in the world of trail running clothing Arcrsquoteryx has made quite an im-pression In 1996 this Vancouver area company partnered with WL Gore amp Associates to begin of-fering technical apparel with Gore-tex technology Since then the company has become known for its superior quality and styl-ish designs Being based out of the Vancouver area probably helped them seize the opportunity to partner with local ultra running phenom Adam Campbell and expand their market
The Visio FL - Gore ac-tive shell jacket is a su-per lightweight (205 g) spring or fall shell jacket designed to keep you dry and warm during cooler running conditions The design is slick and stylish while still practical For in-stance the back is slight-ly lower than the front (called a ldquodrop back hemrdquo)
providing for extra rear coverage from water or mud kicking up but it isnrsquot so drastic as to make the jacket look cumbersome In contrast I have seen some popular running shell jackets that have such a severe drop back hem that style is out the window and therersquos little chance you would want to wear the jacket while not running or cycling
The Velcro cuffs on the sleeves are a nice added feature for extremely rainy weather as well as for those of us with shorter arms who want to use our hands every so of-ten I was surprised not to see any ventilation zip-pers on this shell jacket but the jacket is designed with the latest 3-layer Gore-tex technology in-cluding increased breath-ability which essentially reduces the need for ex-tra ventilation The jacket includes one small zipper pocket just off the front side which is a practical location for a small pock-et as it is away from the front but also does not
bounce items around like a full rear pocket
As mentioned earlier one of the major benefits of this jacket is the weight (or lack of) as it weighs around 200 grams You can barely feel it while running and it packs up nicely into even some of the smaller packs such as my Nathan
My only complaint would be the lack of a hood Since this jacket is built for you to run through a downpour itrsquos just a won-der why a hood might not be included Nonetheless the lack of a hood does add to the sleek design and the Visio FL Gore shell jacket does provide extensive protection from the elements in all weath-er situations If the hood is a sticking point for you there are plenty of other Arcrsquoteryx shell jackets with one
Overall the Arcrsquoteryx Visio FL is an extremely well-designed high-qual-ity shell jacket with adept style and practicality for all running conditions
MRSP $300 CAD
httpwwwarcteryxcomProduct
aspxENMensVisio-FL-Jacket
by Jonathan Schmidt
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
45wwwtrailrunnerca |
OMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATOMNI-HEATregregregregregreg BASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMBASELAYER SHOCKINGLY WARMAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENICAMAZINGLY BREATHABLE INCREDIBLY PHOTOGENIC
copy 2012 Colum
bia Sportswear Com
pany All rights reserved
BREATHABLE FABRIC WITH LITTLE SILVER DOTS THAT REFLECT BODY HEATKEEP YOUR WARMTH NOT YOUR SWEAT bull COLUMBIACOM
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
46 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
incendo tight ndash menrsquos running tight (pictured above amp left)
I find it sad to admit that the summer is gone and Irsquoll be breaking out the tights once again to brave the cooler fall and winter conditions That said itrsquos nice to have cold weather cloth-ing that suits your needs as a runner The Arcrsquoteryx Incendo tight is a cold weather tight that is built to last and survive tough winter conditions Whether yoursquore falling in a snowbank or scraping through some bushes the Incendo tight is built from a tougher than ordinary fabric yet lightweight enough to not make them feel bulky or restrict move-ment There are added support-ive mesh panels covering the calf and back of leg thereby pro-viding the benefits of compres-sion and improved breathability With our relatively warm fall it was difficult to test these in true winter conditions but my sense is that they would be sufficient down to at least -12 to -15 de-grees Celsius They are not a fully insulated tight but then again I hate running in mine so whorsquos to blame Arcrsquoteryx for making the Incendo tight which is comfortable lightweight quick-drying and as stylish as yoursquoll get for black tights
MRSP $80 CAD | httpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensIncendo-Tight-
Motus crew lS ndash long sleeve tech tee (pictured above amp left)
Irsquom a bit of a cynic when it comes to all of the new and improved technology surrounding running shirts Surely it cannot be that much better than all the tech tees I have in my closet Well Arcrsquoteryx certainly surprised me with the Motus Crew LS Similar to their other clothing itrsquos su-per lightweight and quick drying at only 121 grams You could probably cram it into the gel pocket of your handheld bottle if you had the patience Yet de-spite its light weight the Motus Crew LS is sufficient for cooler days around 0 degrees or as a baselayer under a shell jacket in below freezing conditions On the other hand if you accidently overdressed for the conditions the Motus Crew LS wicks ex-tremely well keeping you feeling cooler even into moderate sum-mer conditions The green and black pinstripe design that was reviewed is an impressively bold style for on or off the trail
MRSP $80 CADhttpwwwarcteryxcomProductaspxENMensMotus-Crew-LS
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
47wwwtrailrunnerca |
compressport calf sleeves
Compression technology is a balance between too much and too little Err on the side of too much and you restrict circula-tion and limit performance ben-efits On the other side of things if therersquos too little compression the effect is minimal and yoursquore really just wearing an expensive fashion accessory The other balancing act is that between compression and breathabil-ity Since most races are in the summer months restricting the breathability of the body with more clothing will in my opin-ion simply create more sweat raise the body temperature and limit any potential benefits from the technology It all has to work just right to provide the neces-sary performance benefit
In my opinion the Compressport sleeves have been designed to balance all of these competing issues In hot summer condi-tions they seem to breathe well and provide adequate wicking while still providing strong com-pression The compression is the greatest of any of the com-pression socks or sleeves Irsquove used (Zensah Salomon) At first I felt it might be too much com-pression for races and better for recovery so I contacted the
company about this The com-pany representative stated that greater compression is neces-sary during performance while less compression is better for recovery More specifically the Compressport are designed with ldquooptimal compression for race and active recovery userdquo according to the company rep So I continued to pound away at my training and race schedule with the use of these sleeves I used them during my 50k Lost Soul Ultra this September and I felt the strong compression pro-vided fresh legs for an extended period of time and helped me achieve a 25 minute personal best
It may seem trivial to some but one of the real positives of these sleeves is their ability to avoid grabbing burrs or thistles My Zensah socks which use a different fabric usually end a run with a collection of the lo-cal grasses thistles and oth-er plant life attached Getting these out in the wash are even tougher The Compressport sleeves catch very few grasses and thistles due to the smoother fabric thereby allowing for eas-ier cleaning and quicker reuse
The sleeves come in four dif-ferent sizes based on maxi-mum calf size and height The sleeves provided for testing fit quite well despite only four size categories They come in six unique colour designs including a custom Canadian edition Af-ter testing these sleeves exten-sively Compressport appears to have achieved a thoughtful bal-ance in all aspects of compres-sion technology for trail runners
MSRP $5500
httpwwwcompressportcaestorecom-pressport-calf10-compressport-r2-racere-
coveryhtml
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
48 | Issue 3 FallWinter 2012
columbia shirt Review
Gear Review Columbia Menrsquos Solar PolarTM Short Sleeve Crew
Right away the most noticeable element of this Columbia short sleeve is its style The compass blue design which I reviewed integrates a nicely designed front with an even more stylish back The two-tone blue with reflective and laser cut detail works well if yoursquore with your running buddies or hanging out in a less casual atmosphere
Functionally this shirt outperforms just about anything else Irsquove worn running I put it through numerous extremely hot runs where I was dripping with sweat and it kept me as cool as possible in 30+ Celsius conditions Columbia calls this Omni-Freeze ICE advance cooling technology that cools you down the more you sweat Honestly Irsquom usually not one for lofty manufacturer claims but I can honestly say this shirt is noticeably cooler than many other technical shirts
Another practical aspect of this shirt is its ability to stay relatively free from odours due to the added antimicrobial features which is an important criteria if you want to get some non-running use out of this stylish apparel If yoursquore looking for a stylish short sleeve for hitting the trail or just lounging around the Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Crew will keep you cool on hot running days while showing your flair for style off the trail
MSRP $6499
by Jonathan Schmidt
REVIEWS
49wwwtrailrunnerca |
49wwwtrailrunnerca |