Tish stops to admire the view in beautiful Stanley Park on our Saturday run. This beats the Burnaby Lake parking lot, eh? We can’t get any luckier than this with places to run!
Monday: Eight Cruisers and two friends of the Cruisers ran Monday morning at 7:30 from the Burnaby Lake parking lot and circumvented the lake, not using the most southern trail. Debra, Edie, Larry, Laurie Brookbank, Rick Davidson, Rod, Val and Bobtoc ran 9.50 km, time 1.18, with Rick racking up another half or so km in the capacity as sweeper. Thank you, Rick. Walkers Al and Lynn walked 5.32 km, using the Sun Run Clinic Halfway 5 km route, saving themselves for the 14 k run/walk next weekend from the North Shore to Stanley Park. The ten enjoyed cool, muggy temperatures, overcast skies but no precip and the trails which are now covered in pit run gravel, making the bark mulch history, a welcome change.
Wednesday: Rod and Pat Hargreaves hosted 18 Cruisers, friends of Cruisers and athletic supporters at their home Wednesday evening. Those in attendance were: Adele, Tracy, Debra, Edie, Larry, Laurie, Val, Bobtoc and Marie, Nancy and Rob, Carla, Sharon, Howie, Chris Keeling, Flora, Gi-Nyun, Christina and Tish Oliver. It was a reunion of some Cruisers who have not been running for several months for one reason or another. The company, ambience, food, were all wonderful, all in all a fine beginning for the autumn running season. Good sign: Tish made the break from the Burnaby Lake parking lot.
Former Budweiser Queens (We’ve been promoted from Princeses) Edie and Laurie in an attempt to regain their former beery regal prominence, conducted a beer taste-test, enlisting connoisseurs Chris, Carla, Larry, Rod, Rob and Bobtoc, having them taste-test five unidentified beers. The Queens (former) tabulated the results, which placed Budweiser at the bottom of the heap. The former Queens will just have to face it that they are backing a product that doesn’t stand the test of fine beer aficionados. Have we heard the last of Budweiser? Probably not, taking into account the determination of Edie and Laurie. Alas! All that determination being wasted on a lousy drink. Our thanks to Rod and Pat for their hospitality. Chris Keeling also was a beer taste-tester. Chris is a scientist, a PhD as a matter of fact, who specialized in bees when he took his doctorate. It’s a small stretch for him to move from bee to bee(r) no doubt. Sorry for the omission, Chris! Add this event to your CV. WOW! Imagine that skill on his resume!
Friday: Rod (our keener) ran this morning on his own. See his report below:
Just reporting in. Left home at 7.20 and ran to Kensington Ice Rink, then on to Holdom, North up Holdom to Francis and back along the usual route to Shellmont, up Shellmont and through Forest Grove by the usual route to the Stoney Creek trail, then along the trail to North Road Hill, 1x the hill and back home. Time out 2:35, distance 21.5 km.
Debra Nicol and Laurie Brookbank ran 31 k Friday Sept 11 in 3.45 preparing for the Royal Victoria Marathon.
Saturday: Rick Davidson, Carla, Christina, RA Edie, Larry, Tish Oliver and Bobtoc took the Skytrain to Main and Terminal, commenced their run from there to Stanley Park via the north side of False Creek, past English Bay, the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, around the seawall, ending at the Waterfront Food Fair, and then Skytrained back to the respective Stations of the runners. The seven enjoyed clearly the best morning of the year; perfect temperature, sunshine, breeze, post-card views at every bend of the route. Rick completed 12.5 miles, the other runners except Bobtoc who developed a lame leg, approx. 17 km, while Bob walked from the totem pole area then along the seawall to the Waterfront Food Fair, his running distance approx 13 km. No doubt tourists took photos of the walking totem pole. Oh well. The camaradarie was as good as you get, and the run another day for Tish away from the Burnaby Lake parking lot.
Sunday: Al and Lynn, our very capable walker leaders, completed today’s Coho Festival 14k Run from Stanley Park to Ambleside, time 1:50:29. Congratulations to both!