Training Run – June 21

First ¾’s, 38 Km

Last Sunday’s run was the biggie. It was the peak of our Knee Knacker training runs. I hope that whatever you were doing over the last few days you feel as though you’ve maxed out your training and you’re feeling strong.

We met at Lynn Canyon at 7:30 am with mild dry weather and thankfully the parking lot was open so we didn’t have to bother the neighbours. It seemed everyone was anxious because they were early or on time and the very last of us rolled out of the parking lot by about 7:33. I mentioned there would be ample parking at the enlarged gravel area for the start at Nelson Canyon Park. When we got there however, our 60+ group was a bit too large for all the cars to fit so many were on the road. On race day there will be very little or no road parking available. Instead, you’ll be directed to park in a lot down the road a ways in the direction from where you came. Better yet, on race day plan to take the busses from Deep Cove and save the hassle.

I had everyone’s attention while doing the pre-run speech. A show of hands told us there were a very large number of first timers tackling the climb up and over Black Mountain – almost half the group. I heard later that the snow was low and the trail was fairly easy to find. I reminded the runners that, unlike on race day, we didn’t have aid stations or North Shore Rescue close at hand to take care of us. And that throughout all the Knee Knacker related runs there had only been one rescue of a “lost” runner required … yours truly … and that we didn’t need any more of that. I hope they were laughing with me and not at me.

The day was not without minor mishaps however. And although I wasn’t able to join the runners due to Father’s Day and other commitments I did think several times about what was going on in the hills above the North Shore until 3:00 pm or so. I’d had a couple of phone calls from Curb and Baldwin informing me of their whereabouts for various reasons. It all worked out in the end and I’m sure all of the runners were good and tired after that monster training run.

As I right this report on Wednesday it is finally raining good and hard on the mountains. We need it badly. Be very thankful of the rain this time around and for now we can hope it continues for a few more days. I’m also recovering from my own long run that I did on Tuesday. It felt great to turn the legs for several hours around Lynn Valley and Seymour Mountain. Most of the time was spent running with my friend Donald. I was good and strong the whole way and happy knowing that my training has paid off. Now it’s time to taper since the big day is only about 2-1/2 weeks away.

This coming Sunday we will meet at Cleveland Dam at 7:30 am to carpool again to Nelson Canyon Park. It’s likely that Cleveland Dam will have the gates closed to parking so please find a good safe spot across the way on the side street. There are instructions to the start at Nelson Canyon Park here. Once again, please come well prepared and pay attention to the weather. The top of Black Mountain can be very much wetter and colder than the bottom. From here on you should be feeling strong and getting lots of rest. And I’m sure you’re feeling even more excited about July 11 as I am too.

Craig Moore

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