January 2018
Monday:  On New Year’s Day, being a cold and foggy day at the outset, Larry, Edie along with a very nice lady Tracy Oates, who is the wife of one of Tim’s life long friends, Susan and Bobtoc  Skytrained to the Waterfront station, then walked to Stanley Park and continued their walk around the park before leaving it to walk into the west end, stopped at Timmie’s on Denman then walked to  Burrard to Skytrain back to the Holdom and Production Way stations. During our walk weather improved; fog disappeared, temperature rose a bit.  Stanley Park enjoyed a large turnout of walkers, runners and cyclists.  Icy patches on the walkways eventually gave way to the relative warmth of the sun, making

walking quite safe.


The five enjoyed great views of the mountains on the north shore, clearing skies, flocks of ducks swimming in the ocean, crowds in happy moods.  Total distance, some 15 km, time for all, a smidge over 4 hours including the back to downtown.

Speaking of Stanley Park, on New Year’s Day Miriam and Len Soet along with their long time  

friend Leslie Zenger, and from New Zealand, Vida Selenka and Joe McCallum, swam the annual Polar Bear Swim at English Bay.  Joe McCallum placed 5th in the race to the buoy, he being a competitive swimmer at home.   Miriam became a member of the Polar Veterans Club, having completed her 20th Polar Bear Swim.  Congratulations to Miriam!

Not to be outdone, Flora at Rocky Point took part in the annual Penguin Plunge at Rocky Point in Port Moody.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Heather & Jennel completed the New Years Port Coquitlam Resolution Run put on by the Running Room.  Jennel drove to Heather’s at Shaughnessy & David, then the two gals ran to the Running Room, joined the group and ran 5km to Fox Park & back on a COLD, and somewhat icy morning.  Enjoyed some hot chocolate & goodies at the running room, then proceeded to run back to Heather’s…total distance…14km.  A good start for the Year!!!  (P.S. the jackets that we got for this run were awesome – a good incentive to do this run!!!)          
Talking about our next adventure!
Congratulations to the above swimmers.  Well done, all!

Wednesday January 3rd:On Wednesday evening, Rod, Alex, Flora and Larry did the Forest Grove “backwards” route, going past Stoney Creek school, up over the Gaglardi overpass, up the big hill and beyond to Underhill, down Underhill to Eastlake and you know the way back to Cameron Centre.  Alex ran part of the way back, his time 1h 15, while Flora jogged most of the way and Larry and Rod walked, the threesome’s time 1h22, with distance for all 6.67 km.  It was about +1 C and very foggy in most areas, and dark.  Looking forward to the days getting longer for sure!   
From Jennel:  Jennel walked 4.16 km with her daughter Wednesday morning while Anamaria did her paper route on a crisp, clear & cold morning.  Then walked another 1.09 km around the mall.   Heather & I are back in training, so I’m taking every km I can!  Not sure what run Heather & I will be running yet, but let the training begin!!!   Jennel did a slow, steady run of 6.2 km Thursday morning down Panorama, down Parkway Blvd, up Johnson, back down Panorama, up Greenstone and back to Sandstone Crescent. …..25.47 km for the week!    

Saturday January 5th:  An even dozen folks turned out Saturday am at Rocky Point for run/walks.  The group consisted of RA Edie, Larry, Rene, Rod, Susan, Len and Miriam Soet, Ed and Leslie Zenger, Flora, Christina and Bobtoc, together with canines April belonging to


Edie,  and Jax, being Len’s granddog.  The destination of the group was the usual north shore, with Rene and Len running to the pearly gates with the remainder running or walking to April Road, and all 12 returning to the beach. Times varied, with Leslie and Bobtoc being the last ones in,  consuming 2 hours 7 minutes of time, catching up on events over the previous eight or so years at the home of Geoff and Brittany Zenger. The dozen debriefed with ice cream or coffee at the ice cream shop. The weather conditions included no rain with cloud, +C temperature. The dozen on the return encountered water up to the level of the raised wood walkway at the east end of the seawater, therefore finished their outing on the asphalt walk to Murray St.  Brave? Flora walked the walkway in bare feet.  Photo will be made available upon request.  NO CHARGE!   Distance for the

pearly gate return types, 12.2 km; for those to April Road return types, about 10k.

Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel did a slow, steady run of 6.2km Thursday Morning down Panorama, down Parkway Blvd, up Johnson, back down Panorama, up Greenstone and back to Sandstone Crescent. Total  25.47km  for the week.
Monday January 8th: RA Edie with canine April,  Larry, Len, Leslie Zenger, Flora, Mary, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre Monday and ran or walked the Forest Grove route frontwards from the Centre  along Cameron St. to Eastlake, north on Underhill to Forest Grove Drive to and past the Stoney Creek Elementary School, south on  Willowbrook back to Cameron Centre.  The group enjoyed a no rain evening, and  a cool, but +2 C,  temperature.  Times to complete varied, with Leslie and Bobtoc consuming time of 1hr .39 min, the last ones in.
RA Edie with canine April, Larry, Len, Leslie Zenger, Mary Mcnicol, Flora, Rod and Bobtoc walked or ran the Forest Grove route frontwards (i.e. from NB.  Leslie Zenger last Sunday also swam the Polar Bear Swim at English Bay.
Wednesday January 10th:  The Cruisers senators:  Alex, Rod and Bobtoc met at and walked from Cameron Centre Wednesday 6:30 pm on a no rain, +4 C evening, the best night of the year!  The route chosen was the Forest Grove Drive backwards, i.e. from Cameron Centre to the Gagliardi pedestrian overpass, Forest Grove Drive to  Underhill, south to Eastlake, east past the Burnaby Mountain Senior Secondary School, continuing back to the Centre .  Distance, 6.7 km, time 1:35. The only precip consisted of spots of rain on the drive to the Centre and only a few on the way home.

 Report from Kihei Cruisers:  Arrived safe and sound – Weather is superb. 
Good luck on the run on Sunday!  We are with you in spirit!
Saturday January 13th:  Our photographer made us wave for our picture at Deer Lake for Larry.  April is showing her best side (not!).


Leslie Zenger, Miriam Soet, Rod, Edie, Floraontime and Bobtoc met at the Burnaby Lake parking lot and decided to proceed to Deer Lake from the Bby Lake area, and did so, with a variation of the usual humdrum route.  The six enjoyed +4C, no rain conditions weather. The walk used trails west and south of the lake, streets east also, e.g. at random Oakland St., Strawson, Eagles Drive, Deer Lake Drive, then Sperling back to the beach, then onto Kensington to Burnaby Lake and/or the Fortius building where the six debriefed with coffee before disbanding.  Distance, some 11.6 km, time, 2:10. Canines April and Jax provided protection to the group.

Oh, to be in Maui…….
 Just another lousy day in paradise!

Laura and Eoin, Edie with canine April, and   Rod  and Bpbtoc and Mary Mcnicol, who joined the five enroute at Noel Drive,  started the walk  to the Forest Grove Drive route backwards, i.e., past the Stoney Creek Elementary School and up the Gagliardi pedestrian overpass, at which point the first three returned to the Centre, Eoin having some pain in his knee; and the other three continued their walk on Forest Grove Drive west to Underhill to Eastlake to Cameron Centre.  The six enjoyed a no rain, +7C temperature, another best night of the year.  Time and distance for the second trio, 1:38,  some 7 or so km.
Results from the Kihei Cruiser:
Half Marathon:           Larry,     3:17:17,  20th in 40 to 54 category,   460th of 516 finishers. 


Wednesday:

 Alex did a solo run in the downpour in training for the First Half.  Dedication!Rod ran  ran solo Wednesday evening; did 10K in 1 hour 17 minutes running to the old IGA corner and returned along Eastlake and Arden back to the Centre.  Temperature +7C
Weather : Cloudy at start. Light rain after 2 kilometres of run. Light breeze.
The new section of the Coquitlam Crunch is open!  WOW!  It’s beautiful….So wide, you could walk 5 side by side up the Crunch!  Thursday morning, Jennel ran down Lansdown to Runnel and up to Guilford running 7km, then hopped onto the NEW COQUITLAM CRUNCH and hiked up to Panorama……The Crunch is beautiful…you guys should come for an adventure one Saturday.  Total walk/run/hike – 10km=
From Jennel ~ here’s the new Coquitlam Crunch!  It’s awesome!!!!  See, it’s wide enough for 4 or 5 Cruisers to walk side by side!!!❤  come try it one day!!!!😁

Eight Cruisers and a dog
Edie
April
Eoin
Laura
Flora
Len
Ivan
Alex
and Rod
met at Cameron on a miserable wet Saturday morning. The decision was taken to ignore Bobtoc and do the Forest Grove loop.
Flora, Rod, Len, Ivan and Alex did the whole loop in 1h07  7km.
Edie, April, Laura and Eoin We treaded water to Production Way and returned. 3.16k in 52 minutes.  Drenched.
Alex went on to do an extra 8 km in training for the First Half in February.
Rod

Monday January 22nd:Rod, Flora, Mary, Alex and Edie walked the Forest Grove loop.  Mary and Edie did 6:67k and the others almost 7k because they ran some and 🏃‍did some Bobturns.  It was a lovely evening, no rain.  Our recording secretary was AWOL.

Wednesday January 24th:  On Wednesday, Larry, expat from Maui, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre, and despite the crappy weather, i.e. rain, walked the Eastlake route to Underhill and return; time and  distance,  61 minutes, approx. 5 km.  No chance of football update since Eoin and Laura were not available.  
On Wednesday morning Heather, her dog Burrows (black Pug) & Jennel Walked 6km on Traboulay PoCo Trail.

Saturday January 27th:On Saturday morning, Larry, Rod, Susan, Len (with Jax), Miriam, Ivan (and René who attended but left due to illness), walked the Forest Grove route along Cameron, Beaverbrook, past Stoney Creek school and you know the rest of the route well, distance 7.2 km and time of 1h22.  We did enjoy being out together and getting some fresh air but as Rod said it wasn’t the best day of the year weather wise.   Maybe there are people who enjoy this weather…Afterwards, Larry, Flora and Ross went to see Edie and Tim and had a good visit.             

 Monday January 29th: Lone runner Rod left Cameron and did the Forest Grove loop on a relatively warm, dry and partly moonlit evening, the day’s monsoon having moved on (maybe to the South as part of Free Trade).  Possibly the best night of this year anyway. Time out exactly 1 hour. Distance 7 km. Ambulance waiting in the parking lot at Cameron when I got back, but told them I didn’t need it…

Rod.
Well it POURED all day Monday; later in the evening my daughter had soccer practice at Town Centre, and I ran the track for 7 km in the completely dry weather!!  It was fantastic.  The Coquitlam Running Club was sprinting beside me.  My gosh, they’re FAST!!  Could have kept up with them, but I didn’t want to show off…
Tuesday morning on a DRY day, walked down the Coquitlam Crunch, stopped in at McDonalds for a coffee, hiked back up the Crunch.  11km/hike and it was DRY!  Spoke to one of the construction people.  They are keeping both sides of the Crunch open to the public once they’re done fixing the water pipe, so we will be able to do laps;   run down one side, then run UP the other.
January 31st:  On Wednesday night, despite the awful rain, some Cruisers did attend for a walk.  Rod, Alex with a friend’s dog Cara, Edie and Larry walked along Eastlake to Underhill and returned, using raingear and umbrellas in a not so successful attempt to keep dry.  Distance 4.5 km, time about 57 minutes.  Not only was it rainy, it was a bit colder than it has been recently, but the troops persevered, living up to the Cruiser motto of “Suck it up princess!” 
From the Coquitlam Cruisers: Wednesday morning Jennel & Heather met at the corner of Pinetree and David.  Ran one and a half laps around Town Centre, then ran back home before the rain POURED!!!  We both were soaked on our return to our homes….but ran 11 km Slow & Steady!!!!                      
    
Larrythe younger  
Almost record rainfall for January – most rain since January 2006.  On to February……