2012 Running of the Chickadees

Here are the times for Sunday's run. Thank you to everyone for coming and making this the biggest Chickadee yet.  Thank you to the volunteers for spending their morning on the trais: Mom; Dad; Mary; John; Trish; Doug; Karine & Jodi (providers of the time splits)

I do not think many people knew about it (I had only posted it on the Halifax Trail Runners fb page), but there was prize money up for grabs -- 100 clams for first place winners in each of the four categories. However, the winners have graciously and generously agreed to donate their winnings to the Parker Street Food Bank.  500 dollars was raised for the food bank. Very well done runners!

11 kilometre runners
Nathan Paton 1:09
Dawn Daling 1:11
Lisa Porter 2:17:45
Carol Lee Elliot 2:17:45
Melanie Masters 1:11:11
Shortcake MacNeil 1:17:45*
Ryan Goodale 1:05:30
Celene Hecimovich 1:07:00
David Steeves 1:10:10
Gregg Cunningham 1:11:03
Pat Mullins 1:10:10*
Dave Evans 1:16
Dianne Chiasson 1:23
Roy Hopkins 1:10:30
Alex MacEachern 1:16:20
Melanie Dawe 1:27:25
Dawn MacIntosh 2:20**
Melissa MacIntosh 2:20
Carolyn Haverstock 1:11:45
Toni Thompson 1:14
Aimee McCarron 1:15
Jennie Dobbs 1:18:30
James Lamond 1:18:30
Jordi Taylor 1:08:45+
Ron MacDougall 1:06:30
Susan Cook 1:09:50
Kenton Sefcik 1:10:15++
Susan Ehler 1:23:05
Darren Baxendale 1:09:55
Bill Lobban 1:32:18
Lisa Wood 1:14
Lyn Cleveland 1:17
Nick Cardone 1:20
+Fastest of the youngest
*first trail race ever
**second trail race ever
++ led off course.

25 kilometre runners: 
split at the 6 kilometre mark/finish time
Darlene Chapman  0:51:30/2:36:25
Patrick White 0:40/1:44**
Andrew Titus 0:50/2:56:57+++
Kirk Girouard 0:47/2:28
Dalton Stewart 0:42:30/2:11:42
Andy Canning 0:42/2:16:15
Colin Busby 0:45/2:18:05*
Dale Block 0:40/1:44**
Mark Campbell 0:43/2:07:55****
Bernie Doucet 0:44:30/2:21:42++
Christopher Hollebone 1:01/3:14:31
Mike Minler 0:47/2:23:45
Jacko Kelly 48:30/2:37+
Amy Lachance 1:00/3:00***
Dave Nevitt 0:51/2:39:46
Glen Coolidge 1:00/3:00***

* second trail race ever
** 16 km course
+ "a very tough and rewarding course"- J. Kelly
++ "it ain't no thing - Doucet" ran sub 7 hour Cape Chignecto Saturday.
*** great Gazoo! Longest run ever.
****did not get lost
+++ felt very alive during the race and the moments following

Thank-you John for getting the terrific photographs!
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100700967193342850073/albums/5815238795778827937

2012 Chezzetcook Chickadee

Sunday, November 25th at the Chezzetcook Volunteer Fire Department in Head of Chezzetcook. Come on out for a fun and challenging trail run through the dirt roads and trails of backwoods Chezzetcook.

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 afterwards too.

Same-day registration 7:30 'til 8:30 am. upstairs in the fire hall.
pre-race ramble at 8:55
race starts at 9 am, just a minute walk down the road at the trailhead
distances of either 11km, or 25km.

Course Description
Follow the blue flagging. If you do not see blue tape every minute or two, you are off course. Warning: You are responsible for paying attention and following the marked trail.

The course is eighty percent logging access roads. There is 400m of pavement.  Guaranteed 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.  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. Warning: You are responsible for paying attention and following the marked trail.

The start is at the blue line at the bottom of the image above. Eleven kilometre particpants will run this, then continue  clockwise around the blue loop. Twenty-five 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 red on the map. Warning: You are responsible for paying attention and following the marked trail.

All three of the twenty-five kilometre route's out and back trails involve some good climbs and will test your lungs, quads and capacity for discomfort.

Elevation gain for the 25 km is approximately 522m.

Directions to the start line. From Dartmouth. Main Street to highway 107, drive about 20 minutes, turn off to exit 20. 

Turn left off of exit ramp, continue towards Porter's Lake. Turn right at the stop sign towards Head of Chezzetcook. Continue about 2km, and the firehall is on the left . Please do not block the fire trucks while parked.

Musquodoboit Muffin Runners

Thank you everybody for coming out for a marvellous run. Amy destroyed her old (unofficial) time by about 15 minutes!  Jacko hacked off about 12 minutes from last year! There were no returning champions from last year, but stupendous performances were provided by the new course record holders! More video and photos to come later in the week.

7.5km
Amy 1:11:41
Tania 1:14:37
Michelle 1:15
Terrie 1:18:18
Karine 1:18:18
Jasmine 1:24:22

7.5km
Kenton 48:13
Scott 52:42
Ben 52:52
Keegan 1:11:40
Gregory 1:13:12 +
Chad 1:14:37
Glen 1:16:31

15km
first lap/time at finish
Bonnie 58:37/2:01:36

15km
Jodi 45:11/1:29:32++
Tim 51:58/1:43
Sean 50:47/1:43:08
Kevin 53:29/1:55:12+
Jacko 57:45/1:57:13
Matt 58:47/1:58:18

+ Skull Rock happy fun time detour points
++ 30 second negative split

Some great stills of runners moving (thanks Leah!)!
 https://picasaweb.google.com/106196703163444789480/June52012
https://picasaweb.google.com/106196703163444789480/June42012




some great "footage" from Doug with bonus dance track.

Musquodoboit Muffin Run June 3, 2012

What:
The Musquodoboit Muffin Trail Run, taking place on the Musquodoboit Trailways Admiral Lake trail.
When:
It happens Sunday, June 3rd, start time 9 a.m. Cost $20. RaceDay  only registration $30. 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 boulders. Or how about running down a steep narrow trail 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 singletrack trail, with a few relaxing nice forest smoother bits.

It is absolutely necessary you bring your own food and water for an extended run of more than one hour. 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. In 2011, some young whipper snapper ran the 7.5 kilometre course in 52 and some older whipper snapper ran the 15 kilometre in 1:42

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, 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.

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