September 2015

The Night Race September 25th - Gorgeous moonlit evening at Stanley Park with full moon over harbour

September 4th:  Seven stalwarts turned out at the Centre Wednesday evening, temperature cooler than the hot days we have endured for so long.  Destination was familiar, using the Stoney Creek trail.  Rod and Eoin walked the trail to the North Road gate before returning.  Alex, Laura, Larry, Terri-Lee and Bobtoc continued their run past the gate, then turned northward to Chapman Ave., east to Robinson St, south to Smith Ave,  west crossing North Road, into Casewell St in Sullivan Heights to Willoughby Ave, south back to the Centre.  Distance and time for the walking duo,  4km,  approx. 60 minutes.  Distance and time for the runners,  7.0  km for Bobtoc,  7.75 for the other four, time for the six, 1:25, the distance difference being the bobturns of the five keeping eye on the toc, for which toc was grateful.  The seven completed their walks, runs, stretching on the corral fence at the Centre and were into their cars before a heavy rain deluged the site.  Talk about timing! 

From Jennel:

 Heather & Jennel ran for 1 hour today on the Port Moody Indoor Track.  Nice change of pace.

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From RA Edie:

Hello Bob and Cruisers,  We are not walking as Maureen has a sore foot.  We are looking into going to Bath ahead of time because the next places are too small to do anything.  It was a lovely day today weather wise  ( perfect for walking!) but raining again now.  I wish I had my runners so I could have run yesterday in Birdlip.  Beautiful little village.   We are going to dinner with 4 walkers tonight  - think they are American.  This is Murphy's Law trip.  I hope the recent market dip has left me some money so I can afford all the taxi fares.   Life is good.  April waits downstairs for me until 6 am and then comes upstairs and waits by the window.. It's good to be missed.   Keep calm and taxi on.  Edie

September 5th: Four Cruisers:  Alex, Larry, Minnesota Rachel and Bobtoc met at the Burnaby Lake parking lot, with Larry appearing extra early at 7:30 to get a 20 minute warmup run in before the appearance of the three who showed up at 8 am.  The four experienced a cool, +9C, no precip morning, with mist rising from the playfields; a gorgeous autumn day, the best day of the year.  The four opted for a run around the lake starting at the southwest gate into the trails circumnavigating the lake, and moved south, east, north then west back to the parking lot.  Alex, Larry and Minnesota Rachel spent some time at the Piper Spit admiring the lake’s ducks and crows.  Bobtoc was well behind them, his speed not too swift at all.  He paused for a whiz at the Nature House at the foot of Piper, then continued his jog; followed by the other three after their sojourn at the Spit.  Distance for all, 10.3 km, plus bobturn distance for the first three.  Time for the first three, about 2 hours, for Bobtoc, 2:05.  A fair amount of damage from the recent windstorms was noted in the park; trees large and small down or uprooted, and wind-blown branches prevalent.  The Metro Vancouver crews have been hard at work to clear the trails.  Part of the trail north of the parking lot and to the bridge over Still Creek was protected by Do Not Cross tape.

From Jennel:

Friday morning Heather & Jennel each ran from their homes, met at “our corner”, David & Pinetree.  Ran a couple laps around Town Centre Park and back to our homes.  Heather reported her total distance was 10.33km and Jennel’s was exactly 11km.

This is getting to be a regular route for us;  “Creatures of Habit”  It’s a good, safe, very public route at a good half way point between each others’ homes….so we’ll stick with it!

September 9th: On Wednesday night, Edie, just returned from England, Shiraz, Alex and Larry took advantage of the summer-like weather and walked from Cameron Centre along the Stoney Creek trail to North Road.  Edie, Shiraz and Ivan, who caught up to the group as they were turning back, returned along the trail to the Centre, distance about 4km, time about 45-50 min give or take.  It was nice to see Ivan as he is rehabbing a leg injury and is able to go for walks now – welcome back Ivan!   Larry and Alex continued on and switched to a steady run up North Road, along Chapman to Robinson to Como Lake to Guiltner, followed Regan past the elementary school to Como Lake trail, continued on the way back to Cottonwood, Porter, Foster and Ebert and back to the Centre through Sullivan Heights, for a very pleasant run of 9.5 km in a time of 1h 26m.           

  

Wednesday run:  Heather & Jennel met at David & Pinetree and ran 3 laps around Town Centre Park then back to our homes….total run 14.5 for Jennel and probably very similar for Heather.  On Jennel’s run up Parkway Blvd. her husband, Tony called to warn her about a Mama bear & her 2 cubs.  They were in the area!  So that little bit of fear gave her a jolt up that hill….got home safely,  It’s that time of year…..plus it was green bin day, so the bears are hungry! Terri-Lee…watch out as that Mama bear was just around our area.

Friday Run:  Heather ran to Jennel’s house UP those hills in Westwood Plateau…then Jennel joined her and they ran back to Heathers home, then Jennel ran back to her house!  Worked out perfect…we both got a good 9km run in and got some HILLS in there too!!!  Good thing we did some extra hill work….Tony’s birthday is this weekend and his daughters have made Skor Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Double Decker Cake……..Heather & James are coming over this evening and we’re all going to celebrate with a few calories!!!

In Burnaby:

On Saturday 8 am at Burnaby Lake parking lot, under clear skies, a mist on the playing fields on what turned out to be the best day of the year, Alex, Edie (returned from Blighty), Flora, Larry, Laura and Bobtoc welcomed newcomer to the Cruisers,  Norman Law, referred to us by Cameron Centre staff.  Edie ran earlier so ran a short while only with the group.  The others used the Central Valley Parkway.  Flora and Norman ran to Boundary Road before returning to the parking lot.  Alex, Larry, Laura and Bobtoc ran and walked to Renfrew St and return, with Bobtoc running solo for most of the time with the others bobturning from time to time.  Time for Alex and Larry, 2:45, for Laura who came in with Bobtoc, 2:53,  distance 16 km plus 1 more for the bobturners.September 14th:From Jennel in Coquitlam:

Monday Run: Heather & Jennel met at Pinetree & David, ran 1 lap of Town Centre Park at a steady pace, then made our way over to the track and did 5 sets of sprint intervals.  Ran 1/2 the track at full speed, then the other half at a slower pace.  Then we both ran home.  Total run for each 1.5 hours.  Poor Heather got stung by a bee on our run!  That’s twice this has happened now - at different times..….they must like her “sweetness”

In Burnaby:

Six Cruisers showed up Monday at the Centre on a cool evening with hints only of rain sprinkles.  The route taken by the six was west via Beaverbrook to Underhill, north to Broadway, west to Arden Drive, north to Woodhurst.  Walkers Eoin and Bobtoc turned back at Underhill and Broadway, their distance and time 4.8 and 1:06 respectively.  Runners Alex, Edie, Laura and Shiraz turned back at Arden and Woodhurst back to the Centre, their distance and time 6.4 km and 1:01 respectively. The six were greeted by Rene’ and Denise who stationed themselves at the corral fence, the Cruisers’ traditional debriefing place. 

September 16th:  On Wednesday night, it was a beautiful night although it was dark by 7:45 pm, letting us know that the days are turning into autumn and time for lights and reflectors (sigh).  Larry, Rod, Flora, Edie, Rachel, and Laura who caught up with us, plus Libby and Stormin’ Norman, turned out to enjoy the slightly cooler but pleasant temperature.  Rachel and Rod walked along Eastlake, Underhill to Broadway and returned, distance about 5 km and time of 51 minutes.  Rod reported his leg muscle injury is healing now.  Stormin’ Norman gave a slightly tired Larry a test run but they persevered through Eastlake, Underhill, up around Forest Grove and return, distance 6.5 km, time 45 minutes.  Edie, Flora, Laura and Libby did the same route as Norm and Larry in a time of 1h 05m.  Best of luck to the fab four (see below) who are doing the Eastside 10 K run this Saturday! 

From Jennel:  Jennel drove to Heather’s Wednesday morning at Shaughnessy & David, from there we ran straight down Shaughnessy to the Mary Hill Bypass…turned around and headed back.  Total run was a big one that included a MASSIVE hill….16.39km=    (Both gearing up for that half marathon in October.)  

September 19th & 20th:  Cruisers were busy this last few days.

 

RA Edie reports that on Saturday, four Cruisers headed downtown on the sky train to run in the Eastside 10k.  

Flora, Christina and Edie embarked at Production and met Alex at Commercial.   The steady rain didn't deter us as we ran through the downtown Eastside.  Alex had a fantastic run of 58 minutes, Flora 1:20 and Christina stayed with Edie 1:25.  Yahoo!  We did it.

A well organized event, great company and a free shower.

On Saturday morning, Larry, Laura, Rod and Bobtoc assembled at the Centre under rainy skies and a relatively cold temperature.  Phhytt!  Was the decision to forego the planned walk and proceed, get this, by car, to Timmie’s.  The four therefore did just that, then returned to their respective homes.   No lard balls were ingested, please note.

RA Edie again reports that on Sunday, Laura, Ross, Flora, April and I did the 5k Terry Fox Walk this morning.  It was rainy, windy and not rainy, but a perfect morning for walking through Blue Mountain Park and the Coquitlam neighbourhoods.  Very refreshing recovery walk.   We saw Heather and her husband after.  They did the 5k Walk, too, with their cute little pooch.  We had some lard balls after but don't tell anyone.   The music was great at the Finish Line - Chapter 11. Always great to walk with Cruisers.

September 23rd:  From Burnaby:

On Wednesday seven Cruisers met at the Centre and ran or walked again the usual autumn-winter route  being the tried and true west onto Eastlake, north on Underhill, east on Forest Grove Drive to the pedestrian overpass, south past the Stoney Creek school then back to the Centre.  R. A. Edie, Laura and Larry teamed up to run the route, Rod and Bobtoc to walk/jog it, and Alex and Eoin to walk it.  Eoin again had a great walk without his Nordoc poles covered the distance easily without pain in his legs.  The seven enjoyed a cool evening just right for their outing, another best night of the year.  Time for the groups:  1:10, 1:17, 1:25, distance for all, 6.79 km.

From Coquitlam:

Wednesday morning, Jennel drove to Heather’s home at David & Shaughnessy.  From there, the duo ran straight down Shaughnessy over the Mary Hill bypass and down by the river until they reached 9km….Did a 180 and ran back.  The route involved a MAJOR hill, but what goes up must come down.   Total run was 18km….funny…we talked the entire time!!!   However, when we hit 16km, our conversation did slow down……didn’t stop, just slowed down!!!  LOL   Total time: 2:07

From la belle France from Cruisers on assignment::  (someone has to do it)

I am reporting from Avignon, southern France. We are on a grand tour with the main strategy seemingly to sample the regional cheeses, breads and of course wine. Vin blanc, vin rouge, vin rose. So little time. So many options. We are not particularly choosy but we are taking our responsibilities very seriously! I am not sure how this works into the overall training plan but my next event is not until the Vancouver Marathon so I have a few months to recover and forge forward. Did I mention the croissants? The ones with chocolate melted into the middle? It's a tough job but someone's got to do it. We are managing to squeeze in some cycling over the next few days in the Provence area but nothing overly strenuous. And certainly nothing that would get in the way of the food.....or the wine...... We finish our trip with a canal barge and walking tour through Burgundy then a couple of days in Paris. More food, more wine. Perhaps some art. Don't want to get into a rut.

Hope all is going well. We are back on October 12 - possibly slightly heavier. Duck confit anyone?

Rob & Nancy

September 25th:  Night Run 
 

September 26th:With a  cool but perfect temperature for a run, nine showed up Saturday morning at the Centre, although Flora removed herself from the group immediately due to an existing leg injury.  Joe’s Trail was the destination decided on.   Three groups formed enroute;  first,  Rick and Alex,   second, Laura, Larry, RA Edie and Norman.   Those groups ran to North Road and beyond to Hume Park, Larry’s hill before returning to the Centre, , with Rick and Alex continuing across Cariboo Road into the north trail to  be stopped by barriers which closed the trail due to reconstruction underway before their return to the Centre.  The  third group was  Susan and Bobtoc who ran past the gate on Joe’s Trail  at North Road to the  crossing to Hume Park  before their return to the Centre.  Distances for the three groups respectively were  about 9 km, 10+ km, and 8 km, times for all about 1:25. 

In Coquitlam Friday: 

Heather & Jennel met at Pinetree & David and ran 2 laps at a slower steady pace around Town Centre  - then home.  12km each. 

September 28th:  Alex, Eoin, RA Edie accompanied by canine April, , Laura, Rod and Bobtoc gathered at the Centre, decided to walk the Forest Grove Drive route backwards, i.e. attack the Gagliardi pedestrian overpass from east to west, Underhill, Eastlake etal back to the Centre.   Time and distance, 1:29 and 7:4 km respectively.   The six enjoyed weather ideal for the walk, and the boys caught up somewhat on the status of European football (soccer in this country) courtesy of Eoin, our walking encyclopedia on the game.  On behalf of the boys, my thanks.

From  Coquitlam:

Monday run….Heather & Jennel are winding down for their Half this Sunday…but still need to keep that blood flowing and legs moving.   We did a nice, slow steady pace today:  from David & Shaughnessy….up David hill, down Coast Meridian, along Prairie Ave and then up Shaughnessy St. to Karley Cres. - Sounds like a lot of hills, but it was a very nice steady paced run.  8km……”is there really such a thing as NO hills in Vancouver anyway!?!”

September 30th:  Seven Cruisers turned out at the Centre Wednesday on a gorgeous autumn evening, the best of the year, cool, but perfect for running/walking.  The seven headed west to use the familiar autumn routes providing illumination.  RA Edie and Rod walked briskly the Forest Grove route, i.e., Eastlake, Underhill, Forest Grove east, the overpass, the Beaverbrooks to return, time and distance 1:05 and 7.4 km.  Larry and Laura ran the route to the IGA corner using Eastlake and return, their time and distance 1:20 and 9.5 km.  Alex and Libby took off as well, then bobturned to pick up jogging Bobtoc; the three also reached the IGA corner before returning to the Centre, their time and distance 1:45 and 9.5 km, with another .5 km for Alex and Libby. 

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