Cypress Top Lookout (Skyline Trail) to Deep Cove
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About 35 - 40 runners turned out
for the Father's Day training run. We were greeted with sunny
skies and warm temperatures as we carpooled from Deep Cove to the
start of the run at the second lookout on Cypress.
Colin led the way for most of the
first part of the run with Glen, Patricia and myself close behind.
The Skyline Trail, which follows the power lines along
Cypress for much of the way, was very overgrown and bushy. Wearing
a sleeveless shirt, my arms were pretty scraped up from the thorns
and branches and the footing was a bit treacherous in parts
because you couldn't see where your foot was landing. However
all the runners found their way with limbs intact.
Glen and I took a short break at
Cleveland Dam while Colin and Patricia didn't wait long and took off
up Nancy Green Way. These two seem to be racing each weekend;
both are running well and I'm sure are aiming for good times. Patricia
is definitely a contender for the women's title this year just as
she has been in the past. She was second last year only a
minute behind the winner, Jacquie Trudeau. This year
there will be a new women's champ as Jacquie is out with an injury
(get well soon Jacquie!). Previous women's winner Alana
Prociuk is back so it will be a good race to watch.
It was getting pretty warm by now
so off came the shirts for the second half of the course. The
good thing about the hot weather is that we'll be acclimated for a
hot race day. Glen and I followed a short distance behind
Colin and Patricia, taking it relatively easy up the road and the mini-Grouse grind
section. Once we hit the downhill section we kicked it
up a bit and caught up to Patricia. Colin was no where to
be seen - we later found out he stopped by his house for some
snacks and flat coke.
Glen and I stopped at the old
Learning Lodge to refill our water bottles and spent some
time talking to Ean "Rain no train" Jackson who was
going fishing with his kids. Ean is going down to Western
States so he's in taper mode. Go Team BC!!! Bring back
some buckles kids! Patricia had an appointment to make so she
just kept going - we didn't see her pass us and didn't see her the
rest of the day. She smoked the last quarter of the course!
Hearing enough of Jackson's
sandbagging, Glen and I headed down the trail to finish off the run.
We were both still feeling good at this point and enjoyed the jaunt
through Lynn Valley. Just past Hyannis Drive who catches up to
us? None other than Colin Freeland! This is when we
found out he took a short detour to his house for his homegrown aid
station. The three of us started up the Seymour Grind together
but then my run took a turn for the worse. I bonked in a big
way! I ate my one energy bar at the top of the climb and
sat down for a bit. August and another runner caught us by
now; I somewhat recovered and we began the final leg to the
Cove.
Glen hammered down the trail and part
of me wanted to blast down with him but my blood sugar was low so I
just coasted. August was kind enough to give me a couple of
sugar pills - thanks a heap August, they helped! The last
part of the run from the top of the Seymour Grind to the Cove was
probably one of my slowest times ever for this section.
I finished in just over 4 hours, with the others coming in at about 3:50
- 4 hours. Patricia must have finished in 3:45 or so?
A cold Coke, a chocolate bar and a water did me a world of good.
The sun was out in full force by
now and runners trickled into the Cove in small groups, the last
ones coming in around 6 hours I think. Even though I ended the
run on a somewhat bad note I still enjoyed it - its better to have this
happen on a training run than a race. I know what I did wrong
that day - I should have know better but we're all human
and will make mistakes. As long as you learn from them its
not a bad thing.
I'll be better prepared for this
Sunday's run which is the last 3/4, running from Cypress Bowl
parking lot to Deep Cove. These last few outings are all
race specific, point to point runs. I urge all first time
racers to come out as you will get a good sense of what the race
will be like. We will meet at 7 a.m. in Deep Cove again and carpool
to Cypress Bowl. Remember, pay parking is now in
effect at Cypress - cost for parking is $5. The
machines take cash and credit cards.
Have a great run and stay fit, stay healthy! |
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