So what is this trail racing, anyway?
Up until mid 2007, I had been completely unaware that healthy, fit, sane and otherwise normal people would attempt to run at top speed up and down hiking trails that were best meant for leisurely and contemplative walking. What, run on these root and rock strewn dirt paths, scramble up steep slopes and pick your way down crumbly scree? Who would do that?
Apparently, I would, along with many others in the Vancouver area. The local mountains and provincial parks provide challenging routes of all lengths and elevations.
I had a recommendation to try one of the 5 Peaks races as they are well organized and attended. I had been complaining since the HBC run about shin pain and some knee issues. Trail racing was all about soft dirt tracks, so I was told, which was easier on the legs than asphalt or concrete. So hey I signed up.
Pace bunny was queried. She was unable to join me due to conflicting commitments, but expressed a desire to participate in a future trail race. I signed up to run the 10km trail at Buntzen Lake, a park in Port Moody BC.
The first challenge was to figure out where this was. For a person who thinks a trip to suburbia means crossing a bridge to Kitsilano, Port Moody was, well, way out there. Much mapping and planning was executed. For the first time, I was to be accompanied by the missus to an event, not the least of which reason being was that I would need a navigator to explore the intricacies of suburbia at 7 AM!
On the day, actually, the early morning, of the event, I got up and packed some stuff. A towel, extra clothes, extra pair of shoes, socks and a few energy bars. The missus packed a snack, a book and a large thermos of hot water for making tea. We were all set.
It was apparent for us uninitiated downtowners that part of the "adventure" in this trail race was to differentiate amongst the nuances of street names, because apparently the subdivision closest to the park had only one street name allocated to it, requiring the liberal use of Street, Way, Close, Drive, Avenue, Road, Circle. Boulevard. I am sure we past several houses three times over!
Finally, we arrived at the park. Little bright orange flags clearly indicated the way to the best parking for the race start. We went down to the race start area, near the shore of Buntzen Lake and I had time to do a bit of a warm up and gaze at some of the offerings from vendors and other event organizers.
At this point, I discovered that we should have packed toilet paper along, too. Apparently, the park staff had allocated a measly 2 rolls per bathroom at the race start. These did not last long as both men and women struggled with last minute bio breaks.
Note to self: consider bring lots of TP to next trail race so that some scalping can be done ;-)
After witnessing the impact of the TP shortage and saying my farewell to the missus, I approached the start line. This was a self seeding start, so I figured I would start in the middle as best I could guess. There was some brief instruction on the course marking used to different the three distances being run - yes some nutbars were running a half-marathon distance -and then the race started.
As a special treat, the very first part of the course, leading away from the lake, was up a slight incline. Nothing too serious, but not a super gentle way to start.
Then we hit the Energy Trail. An interesting name, for one could expect that this would be a trail with some divine powers to impart youthful energy and zip to your trot, but no, it was much different than that. The trail led immediately up, in a continual switchback zigzag for what seemed like forever. Much less than 1 km into the race and I was fearing I would already have to walk. Runners were passing me in droves. I passed a handful of folks who pooped out quickly. No small feat this passing as the trail was not quite but almost "single track" at this point. Lots of creative bounding up side slopes and clipping the edges of switchbacks.
Somehow, I managed to reach the peak of this rise without breaking into a walk. So far, the knees and shins were not complaining, it was the quads! The trail flattened out somewhat and I continued onto the run.
The next transition was to a gravel road area -- soft trails indeed! -- that seemed to be an access road when not covered in colourfully clad trail racers. This too had a nasty habit of going only up. I was determined to pick someone ahead of me and implement "secret pace bunny" protocol. I found a fellow who seemed to be keeping a reasonable pace kept up as best I could.
We veered off the gravel road back on to genuine hiking trail. This part of the course had some interesting up and down bits. It was not very clear whether up or down was winning. In the down bits, I ran over my first wooden board platform that covered a marshy area. After dealing with the dirt and gravel, I was at first concerned that this surface would be a bit too smooth and there could be some slipping, but luckily the wood was dry. I also discovered that these wooden bits can be a bit punky, which adds lots of spring to the step but no doubt one day soon there will be one step too many.
As the group of racers was thinning out, I took the chance to look around, a bit. This was a very beautiful trail. Lots of interesting view points and a variety of green things to look at. But looking around consisted of sneaking the occasional peek or glimpse. I could not stray too much from looking just slightly ahead for the next rock, root and very squishy mud puddle.
As I began to tire somewhat, I decided to check my Polar for approximate distance and time. It claimed that I was well ahead of my expected pace! Wow. That was something I wasn't expecting as I was sure that the elevation would slow my down significantly. I wasn't nearly as fast as on the road, but wow.
After a few more ups and downs I emerged from the dense forest area into an open meadow. This was the final part of the course, the finish was imminent. The course took me over what seemed to be timer mats for detecting chips for finishing time. I asked a woman standing near the mats if this was the end of the course. She said yes. I was relieved. I slowed to a jog and made a right and began to head over to the picnic table where the missus was sitting. But wait, the missus was frantically gesturing at me. Was this a gesture of victory, of congratulations. There seemed to be some anger, and some pointing....
Being reasonably smart, I looked in the direction of the pointing, only to see the big FINISH sign about 25 metres to my right. Um, I hadn't passed the finish yet. So I hoofed it as best I could to cross in a very respectable 1:16, which may have been just that incrementally more respectable if I had figured out which was the REAL finish line!
My first trail race. It would not be my last.
I've met those switchbacks! And believe me I came out the worse for it. :)
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