Splish Splash Sploosh … and whatever that sound is that your foot makes when it sucks itself out of mud! That was how most of the run was on Sunday as we had rain the whole way except for one brief moment that I actually saw a shadow in front of me from the sun not really showing it’s face through the clouds. I think this was the muddiest Knee Knacker training run I’ve done in a long time and perhaps ever in my years since starting in 1999. But oh what fun it was. And I trust that you remembered to go through the puddles in training because you really need to get a feel for how deep they just might be on race day. You don’t want to waste any time going around them when things get serious ;-)
The ‘Last Half’ training run is a chance for the new people to begin to see what race day will feel like. You get the challenge of starting with a long uphill on Nancy Greene Way and Grouse Mountain (kinda like Black Mountain but not really) before crossing what is for many a mentally if not physically tough section of the course on your way to Lynn Canyon where the 3rd major aid station will be positioned. From there, the trail winds down, up, down, up, up some more, up a lot more, and then finally down the long last stretch to the rolling route of the many bridges to Deep Cove. And I figure that whatever your time was on Sunday double it for sure to get your race day time give or take a few minutes. You might be a bit faster by then but Black Mountain will slow you down at the start for sure.
Yes it rained a lot to say the least but we still had around 45 smiling faces to test the trail and their own determination. I’m sure the likes of Patricia were in the Cove before some of us got to Lynn Canyon (2.5 to 3 hours) but I’m also sure that all of us carefully and slowly made our way through the Seymour Grind where our May 28 Trail Work Party will occur. It was wet, slippery, and I’m sure even more rough and tired than the last time I went through about a month ago. Please remember to volunteer for Trail Day by e-mailing our Knee Knacker 2005 Volunteer Coordinator Bonnie via the feedback form.
If you’re new to trail running and the Knee Knacker, I hope that you’re starting to get the ‘knack’ of the Baden Powell Trail and what it’s like to have one of the best places in the world to run. And for those that have been out before, I know you’re soooo looking forward to our next training run to Cypress. This time there are only 2 directions to run, once each: up, then down.
See you next Sunday at Cleveland Dam, 8:00 am. Hopefully your shoes are dry by then.
Craig Moore
(e-mail me with our feedback form)