20/11/2011

Chickadee Run Results

Chickadee Runners Achieve, Astound and Amaze!
Somewhat official  timing from Suunto t3 wristwatch


10 kilometre
Keltie Wagstaff 1,03,45
Jennie Dobbs 1,09,25
Darlene Chapman  1,09,25
Dawn MacDonald 1,11,05
Ania Danigier 1,11,05
Kasia Danigier 1,11,25
Claire Richardson 1,14,59*
Lena Thompson 1,15,15
Amy Lachance 1,15,15
Sheila O'Brien 1,17,41

10 kilometer
Navid Rahemtulla :) 44,55
Rick Lewis 1,01,14
Bill Lobban 1,08,13
Shuhei Miwa 1,09,26
Rick Horsman 1,09,27
Michel Gelinas 1,11,05
Cookie MacKilt 1,11,25
Glen Coolidge 1,12,56

20 kilomeetr
Hazel Caldwell 1,49,28

20 kiloemetre
Matthias Mueller 1,42,04
Clint Cummings 1,48,47
Peter Boileau 1,57,04
Tim Farmer 1,57,06
Kevin MacDonald 1,59,36
Bruce Bowen 2,07,17
Greg Jones d.n.f.

*modified distance


Truly great efforts by all runners on a really nice day for a run.  The winner of each category received a $25 gift card from TAO, and $40.00 cash prize. The MEC gift cards were drawn at random to three lucky recipients.

You're lucky these guys were Volunteering and not running!
Good to see some more new faces on the dirt scene, and to see some new to running, and a new mom run. Thanks for making the run a success and boggling the minds of Mosher Road residents as to why all those people were heading into the woods at nine in the morning, and on a Sunday! We left there just as the golfers were starting to arrive.

Thank you to the volunteers: Brenda, Mary, Susan, Karine, Judy, John, Bert, Doug, Jack, Vern, Karine  Jodi, Stella and Sophie. I bet you didn't think you would get hugs from the runners, but you did. I hope they weren't too sweaty.

Thanks to the generous donations from our friends at The Adventure Outfitters, and Mountain Equipment Co-op -- enjoy those gift cards!

Sticky Date and Coconut Cake
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sticky-date-coconut-cake-10000001860090/


Ingredients

  • Cake:
  • 1 cup chopped pitted dates
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda 
  • 3 tablespoons butter 
  • Dash of salt 
  • 6 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups) 
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • large egg, lightly beaten 
  • Cooking spray 
  • Topping:
  • 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 
  • 1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter 
  • 2 teaspoons fat-free milk 

Preparation

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  • 2. To prepare cake, combine first 5 ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes or until dates are tender.
  • 3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Stir in date mixture, granulated sugar, vanilla, and egg until well combined. Pour batter into a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
  • 4. To prepare topping, combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute. Pour brown sugar mixture over cake; bake at 350° for an additional 13 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack. Run a knife around outside edge. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Note:
Prepare the topping while the cake bakes in step 3.



02/10/2011

Cuddly Coyote v2.0 rocks

Thanks Karine and Jodi for assembling some very adventurous running terrain (and awesome volunteers) in the Black Harbour area. As well as the river crossing and lots of healthy size puddles, the buckets of rain were all out to keep the dust down and put out any fires that might ignite from runners' thighs blasting up and down some quite serious grades. A little unusual for the first day of October that it was raining heavily and a pleasantly warm eighteen celsius.

This course had something for everyone: sweet bouncy wooded singletrack through mossy undergrowth; a couple lengthy climbs to settle into; a river crossing; hubcaps to circle around; bottomless mystery puddles; some good old fashioned root hopping. And we will never forget the foot sucking muck of the last climb before the final ascent. The hill was steep enough already, just adding a little extra resistance to lifting your foot each time made it especially fun!

26/09/2011

Chezzetcook Chickadee Trail Run 2011


Sunday, November 20th at the end of the pavement on Moser Road (off of Conrod Settlement Road) in Head of Chezzetcook. Come on out for a fun and challenging trail run through the dirt roads and trails of backwoods Chezzetcook. Huge thank-you to TAO, and MEC for provinding gift cards for our amazing volunteers and winners.

You can now register online at Atlantic Chip for $20, or on the morning of the run for $30. The course will be very well marked and volunteers will be on-hand to point you in the right direction at the major intersections. There will be awards for the top female and male in both distances. Snacks and awards afterwards too.

Same-day registration 7:30 'til 8:45 am. at

the trailhead
pre-race ramble at 8:55
race starts at 9 am
distances of either 10km, or 20km.

Course Description

The course is ninety five percent logging access roads, . There is 400m of pavement. You will get your feet wet. You will experience some slippery rocks and sticks, and you will probably see or hear a chickadee or two. The ice has been cancelled for this year, by moving it ahead 3 weeks.

Allow time for a ten to fifteen minute pre-race warm-up, and time to socialize.


Don't forget to check the weather and dress appropriately. Most of the trails have large exposed rocks and puddles. There are no feed stations on the course, so supply yourself with necessary water and snacks. This is a physically demanding run, and most of the course is in remote wilderness.

2010 mean times were 1:36 for the 16km, and 0:46 for the 7 km runs. For this year, I estimate the middle times for the 10 km might be around 1 hour, and the 20 km around 2:10.

View Chezzetcook Chickadee 2011 in a larger map



The yellow pin is the start. Ten kilometre particpants will run this, then continue counter clockwise around the inside (blue) loop, and complete an out and back trail at approximately the three quarters distance. Twenty kilometre runners will do that, plus be directed by volunteers at an additional three separate points along the trail to the out and back sections. These sections are indicated in green on the map.

Not only is the twenty kilometre run twice distance of the 10 km, but also keep in mind that all four out and back trails involve some good climbs and will test your lungs, quads and capacity for discomfort.

Here is an elevation profile of the 10km course. 215m elevation gain.

And one for the 20km course too. 412 m elevation gain.
Directions to the start line. From Dartmouth. Main Street to highway 107, drive about 20 minutes, turn off to exit 21. 
Turn left off of exit ramp, continue towards Head Chezzetcook. Stop at stop sign across from St. Barnabas church and cross road to Conrod Settlement Road. Drive about 2 minutes down Conrod Settlement Road.
Turn left onto Moser Road. Continue to end of road where you will see a basketball net. That is the starting area. Please do not block anyone's driveway while parked.

Cuddly Coyote October 1, Black Point fire hall

Karine and Jodi are at it again! It's Cuddly Coyote time again version 2.0 with some quad tenderizing topography on the menu. You can get just a taste with a 9 km run, or a full course meal of 21 kilometres. See you there!!

http://trailbugracing.blogspot.com/2011/08/cuddly-coyote-trail-race.html

18/09/2011

Kejimikujik 25/50

Thanks to Brad for putting together a super nice out-and-back course. Four hard-willed runners battled in the 50k, the other dozen of us ran through the 25. Alarmingly cold first thing in the morning (5C), but eventually it warmed up to the mid teens.

With so few hills, my quads are feeling surpisingly beat up from the run. The trail is just what you would think of, when you think of Keji' national park; lots of giant pines, smooth cushiony forest floor, short gravel sections with a few little rocky and rooty parts. Oh, and lots of kids carrying backpacks, that kindly stepped aside for us speedsters.


50km
Jodi Isenor 3:48
Shawn McCardle 3:49
Chris MacKenzie 4:28
Doug MacEachern 5:40

25km
Sean Merrett 1:56
Richard Lane 2:03:30
Darlene Chapman 2:07
Andrew Myatt 2:12
Matt Keith 2:13
Ian McDormand 2:15
Bridgette Sabourin 2:27
Karine ?
Cathy Carter 2:33.30
Stuart McLellan 2:45
Kevin Neat 3:05
Nancy Neat 3:05

19/06/2011

21 Runner Salute


The Musquodoboit Muffin run went off with a bang, or to say more accurately, finished with several bangs, as the last few runners were pushed along to finish by accompanying timpanies of thunder from a passing storm.

Women's seven and a half kilometre:
Bonnie Sutherland 56:07
Erica Doucet 1:00:58
Suzane Couture 1:12:24
Susan Spence Wach 1:16:58
Amy Lachance 1:43:33**

Men's seven and a half kilometre:
Graeme Wach 52:00
Ben Parsons 54:20
Bruce Murphy 1:08:15
Kris MacLellan 1:09:46+
Gordon Warnica 1:15:11
Tim dine 1:19:17
John Fahey 1:25:19
Grant Wach 1:44:00

The eight runners in the fifteen kilometre:
Andy Canning 49:50/1:42:03++
Sean Cassidy 51:15/1:47:17+++
Tim Brooks 55:35/1:49:38
Kevin MacDonald 56:30/1:56:15
Tim Farmer 56:25/ 2:08:27*
Jack Kelly 1:00:35/2:08:29***
Murdoch Jean 1:05:41/ 2:13:30
Mike Black 1:09:35/2:27:51
*started 15 minutes after the start**started 30 minutes after the start.***ran 10 hours the day before today's run. +longest run of his life so far. ++chose the muffin run over the Johnny Miles. +++Anton Krupica no-shirt award.

There was some truly inspirational efforts by runners that have never run the Admiral Lake trail before, or had even imagined running something like that before. There were even a couple part-time runners out to see what they could muster. Amazing run especially by Tim B. who ran a negative split [-1:30] the second lap without his glasses.

A deep bow with flourishes to the growing list of supporters to trail running:
The Adventure Outfitters for outfitting our terrific volunteers (Mary, John, Doug, Judy, Bert, & Susan thank you all)with gift certificates! Plus two gift certificates were drawn to happy recipients.

Mountain Equipment Co-op for providing super awesome Vector tees for the first place finishers!

Java Blend for providing us with some much needed medium roast Columbian and the magic carafe! Thanks Jim!!

11/03/2011

Musquodoboit Muffin Trail Run

What:
The first ever Musquodoboit Muffin Trail Run, taking place on the Musquodoboit Trailways Admiral Lake trail. A very special thank-you to The Adventure Outfitters for providing awesome gift cards for our very much appreciated volunteers. Also thank-you to the amazing support from Mountain Equipment Co-Op for providing race prizes, and to Java Blend for providing us with their super amazing coffee!
When:
It happens Sunday, June 19th, start time 9 a.m. Cost $20. There will be an award for the top finisher in each of the four categories.
Distance 7.5 or 15km:
Run either one, or two laps of the 7.5 kilometre loop. The loop consists of 2 kilometres on flat rail trail, and the rest on very difficult singletrack through the woods.
Pay Attention
There are no support or feeds on the trail, but there will be volunteers at the major intersections to point you in the right direction. The trail is well marked with yellow metal tree tags and at intersections there is pink trail flagging.
Warning, Warning, this is very difficult running!!!
Imagine running up 100 stairs made of randomly placed bear-size boulders. Or how about running down a steep hill on a trail that is only wide enough for one foot at a time that twists and turns on wet leaves; and there are the wet roots arching over chiseled sharp rocks requiring very carefully planned placement of the foot. Essentially that is the trail, with a few relaxing smoother bits.

It is absolutely necessary you bring your own food and water for an extended run of Two Hours Plus. The distances are deceptive, as the terrain is very steep with many sharp twists and turns. Plan for approximately 1 to 1.5 hours run for the 7.5 km, and 1:45 to 2:45 for the 15km.

This trail demands a lot of the runner, requiring hopping, sidestepping, ducking, shuffling, jumping, skipping, arm waving, shoulder shifting, and grunting. It is highly advised to have shoes with deep lugs for traction. This should not be one of the first runs of your season. The trail, know as a very challenging hiking trail, is a real humdinger to run on. This is a technical trail run experience. You are encouraged to walk/fast hike it, if you find the trail difficult to run.

There are several incredibly beautiful look offs and the terrain the trails cut through is amazing. The trail is very challenging with very few flat-like sections. Most of the time you will be ascending, or descending a steep hill. Take a peek at the map, just to see how many times the trail skips over contour lines. Just looking at it will make your thighs ache!

http://www.mta-ns.ca/PDF/Map.pdf

Directions to site from Main St. Dartmouth:
East on 107 approximately 23 kilometres to the very last exit (Musquodoboit Harbour).
Turn right onto highway 7 and travel east for 2.4 kilometres.
Then turn left onto highway 357 by the bank(Meagher's Grant Rd).
Continue for 1.7 kilometres to the first bridge, and turn right on the bridge (Bayer's Mill Road).
Drive to the end of the road.
Park off the side of the road on either side, but not in front of the gate.

The Start/Finish/Registration is on the rail trail proper near the intersection of the Bayer's Mill Road and the rail trail.
You can register on the day of, or now on Atlantic Chip.
http://www.atlanticchip.ca/events/details.php?show=727

Here's the start point on google maps

Also here's an idea of the gps route profile:
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/anerdoo/gkbhi6a7jsivkpe0
View Muffin Run start in a larger map