A handful of local triathletes took part in the 2008 IG Peach
Classic Triathlon in Penticton Sunday, July 20, an Olympic distance event with
a 1,500 metre swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run.
At the top of the class, in 75
th
overall and second
in the men’s 60 to 64 age category, was Greg Sandkuhl. He finished the course
in 2:29:08, boosted by the 45
th
fastest swim time of the day.
Christine Suter was 89
th
overall, 14
th
out of 151 women, and fourth in the women’s 40 to 44 age category with a time
of 2:23:29.
Karen Kafkova was 17
th
in the women’s 30 to 34 race
in 3:16:52.
As well as the triathlon, local runners also took part in the
annual Diva on the Run women’s 10 km race in Vancouver over the weekend.
Kate Linton was 20
th
overall and second in women’s
35 to 39 in 57:34.
Kari Gaudet was 10
th
in women’s 30 to 34 in 59:23.
In the Kitsilano Challenge open water swim on the weekend,
Whistler’s Megan Wastle was first in the women’s 1,500 metre race in the 30 to
34 age category in 25:27. Danny Ng was third in men’s 30 to 34 in 31:00.
Tougher end for Gearjammer
Already the toughest race in the Squamish Triple Crown, the
annual Squamish Gearjammer got a little more challenging this week with a
change to the course that adds more singletrack.
“We want to make the final kilometre as good as the rest of the
race,” explained race director Curtis Roberts. “We haven’t really been happy
with the end of the race through the Smoke Bluffs Park and along Loggers’
Lane.”
The new route will drop riders from Plateau Drive, behind the
Valleycliffe General Store, and back up to Hospital Hill, through the gully and
around the Mamquam Blind Channel. The route change required the approval of
private landowners, who agreed to let the event go through their property.
The GearJammer takes place Saturday, July 26, on a challenging
47 km course around Squamish. Although it’s about 20 km shorter than the Test
of Metal, it takes almost as much time to race.
Registration is available at www.gearjammer.ca, or on the morning
of the race for an extra fee. In Squamish, you can register the night before at
Nesters Market at Squamish Station Mall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On
Saturday, registration is from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Alice Lake, starting at
11 a.m.
A full course map is available online.
Salomon sponsors monthly hash run
Participants in the monthly Whistler Hash House Harriers run on
Tuesday will get a special treat this week, with Salomon bringing dozens of
pairs of their 2009 XT Wings trail shoes for participants to demo. The shoes
will be new, out of the package, and runners can try them out on the course.
The event is also hosted by The Escape Route, Cliff Bar, and
the Cinnamon Bear, and the cost is $5 to participate.
If you’ve never been in a hash run, it’s best described as a
mix between trail running and a scavenger hunt. Groups work together in teams,
following the trail, following false leads, and crying “on, on!” when they find
the trail again. The format allows fast and slow runners to stay together, as faster
runners look for leads while the slower runners catch up.
If you want to take part in the run, and try a pair of shoes,
be at Escape Route at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29. The run starts at 6 p.m.
Duncan Munro of Whistler Running Experience is also hosting
weekly trail running clinics every Tuesday through the end of September. To
take part, meet at 5:45 p.m. at Escape Route for a 6 p.m. start.
Trail night on Friday
Some 13 people turned out last Friday to work on a new exit
from Shit Happens called Rainbow Creamsicle, following a design set by Ian Ritz
and Julian Hine. The next trail evening is on Friday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m.,
meeting at the access to White Knuckles, across the street from Trudy’s
Landing, and just north of the Rainbow development. Crews will put the final
touches on Creamsicle and move uphill onto Shit Happens for some armouring
work.
Volunteers who help out will be invited to a special WORCA
volunteer event at the end of the summer.
The new section of River Runs Through It, built by Eric Barry,
is also open to the public. The new section connects to the trail near the exit
onto Alta Lake Road, and finishes at the overflow parking lot for Rainbow Park.
