February 2017
Wednesday, February 1st: Rod, Larry, Alex, Flora and Rachel walked along Eastlake, Underhill, along Forest Grove, crossed the Gaglardi overpass and back to Cameron Centre. Distance 7 km, time about 90 minutes. It seemed quite cold even though everyone was bundled up. As the group returned to the Centre, René arrived to say hello to the group. Larry’s ankle is healing well although he will be walking for awhile yet.
From Jennel: Thursday, just ran 25.12km around Town Centre, then decided to extend my run to Costco & back. Last minute decision as I wanted to get out before the snow came. Weather network calls for 20 cm tomorrow in Coquitlam…so thought I’d get my long run in today. Now I’m done for the week. I ran down David to Shaughnessy, down Prairie to Coast Meridian to the Costco Gas Station, said hi to my husband who was filling up the car, then ventured back the same way. Jennel has run 36.6 km this week! Saturday February 5th: On Saturday morning no one reported going out in the snowstorm. Larry drove out to Cameron Centre, saw no one, and judging by the lack of vehicles on the road, decided not to check in at Tim Horton’s. Road conditions were bad in the early morning. Welcome back to winter!
In view of the latest forecast for tomorrow (Wednesday) night of up to 10 cm of snow starting in the afternoon, turning into freezing rain after midnight, it’s fairly certain conditions will not permit safe running or walking tomorrow evening. See you on Saturday morning.
Cruisers have been active, with reports of snowshoeing (Flora and Gillian), treadmills, endless shovelling, and use of yaktraks (Rod and Pat), all worthy alternatives to hibernation.
Saturday February 11th: On Saturday morning, there was mixed success with getting active outdoors (but we know it will get better!). René, Rod, Edie and April, Alex, Ivan, Flora, Susan and Larry met at Cameron and set out for a walk. Just as Cameron turns into Beaverbrook, the pathway was still shiny and you know what that means. So, Edie and April walked back to Coquitlam, distance about 3 km, Alex and Ivan walked the Stoney Creek trail to about Como Lake Road, where they encountered a fallen tree, and came back to join the rest of the group at Tim Horton’s, their distance about 5 km, where the group convened another strategy session and walked approximately 0.5 km (another tough workout!). It was resolved that spring was on its way and everyone was looking forward to it, although there was still time for another winter interlude. And the sun came out today so it’s all good!
From the Coquitlam Cruisers: Heather & Jennel did the 5km Love2Run on Saturday with the Running Room in PoCo. Jennel & Heather decided to run from Heather’s to the Running Room, but shortly after we started running, decided to turn around and drive as weather conditions were poor on the sidewalks. So we met a group at the Running Room and from there we ran/walked along Gordon, crossing Hastings at the light, we ran along the bridge, right down/ turning left on the trail….(downstream on trail). We went out 2.35 km and returned. Parts of the road were VERY slippery and we took cautions and shortened the run just a touch…… but everyone was safe. We celebrated Valentine’s Day on our return to the R.R. with FREE Hot Chocolate, cookies, cupcakes and gummies!!! “Best Run of the Year!!!” Oops. Forgot to add… the Start of the Run was Fox Park. But we left from the Running Room….Heather’s & Jennel’s total distance was 6.5km:) that’s including our attempt to run to the R.R.
Wednesday February 15th:No one but Larry turned up at Cameron Centre on Wednesday night. It was not raining at the time, however the steady rain during the day must have convinced people it was not a night to be outside. Since Larry had already walked a fair bit during the week and did not want to strain his healing ankle, he returned home. Rod ran from his home in the morning and did the Forest Grove loop. Distance 7.5 km, time 1h 05.
On Thursday Jennel ran from Panorama down Lansdowne to the street before Barnet Hwy. (Runnel St)….then turned around and ran back up the hill…got home, listened to news and Mark Madryga said RAIN the rest of the week….so had a sandwich and did that route again to get in the Long Run this week! So 2 hills of Lansdowne with NO Rain! Having a sandwich right in the middle of a Half Marathon is a great idea!!! ha! ha! 22.53km total 🙂 Editor’s Note: Actually, eating lightly during a run can do wonders – do not underestimate the need for refueling!
Monday February 20th:Some action Monday! Alex, RA Edie with April, Laura and Eion, Bobtoc met at the Centre and chose to walk on the chilly but no precip evening. The five walked to Underhill and return via Eastlake. Time and distance, 70 minutes, 5 km.
Flora used a treadmill track at home, watched TV whilst running, time and distance, 1:06, 6.16 km respectively.
Coquitlam Cruisers: Jennel ran solo Monday since Heather was unable to meet her, therefore ran at tempo pace around Town Centre once, the wandered to the track where tonnes of people were. THAT inspired me to do a few fartleks laps, then ran home where hubby Tony met her and they walked into the Port Moody area. Total distance 10:17 km.
Wednesday February 22nd:Five turned out Wednesday at Cameron Centre. Alex, Larry, Laura, Rod and Boboc walked the FG Drive route backwards, i.e., using the Gaglardi pedestrian overpass then proceeding west to Underhill, south to Eastlake and you know the rest back to the Centre. Time between 1:27 and 1:31, distance 6.8 km. The temperature felt cold; lots of moisture in the air which exacerbated the cold feeling.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Wednesday: Jennel and Heather teamed up and ran to Town Cenre. Jennel ran a little extra solo, aggregated 16.33 km distance.
Thursday: Jennel,, to avoid potential snowfall predicted, ran again, up Johnston to Westwood Golf Course and return; distance 11.9 km.
Saturday February 25th; On Thursday Rod from his house ran the Forest Grove route under sunny, dry, cold conditions. His time and distance, 1:01, 7km respectively.
Alex, Larry and Bobtoc met at the Burnaby Lake parking lot Saturday am on that cold but no precip day, and walked north on the old Sperling Road then west on the trail in Burnaby Lake parkland to Douglas Road, west on Still Creek St
to north of Costco then returned via the same route back to the lake. Time and distance, 1:40, estimated distance, 7.5 km.
Alex and Angela, Larry, Len Soet, Christina and John, RA Edie and sister-in-law Jane, Rachel and Bobtoc travelled to First United Church at Hastings and Gore in the DTES to walk the Coldest Night of the Year under the name of Cliff Avenue Cruisers fund raiser for the First Church activities of providing shelter and care for homeless folks in Vancouver. The team registered, observed the opening ceremonies before embarking on the walk, whose route included parts of Chinatown, west to False Creek, continuing along the 10 k or the lesser distance routes of the walk back south then east to the vicinity of Terminal Avenue and Main Street, where the team except for Alex and Angela, assembled for “debriefing” at the Dubh Linn Gate public house on Main and First for refreshments. The team enjoyed the music and food and drink, not all alcoholic, before Skytraining back to Burnaby or Coquitam. Time and distance for the 10k route, 2:27 and 10.94, per Len. Edie was the Captain for the First Church Cruisers, and did a marvellous job of organizing and informing the team members from start to finish. Our thanks to you, Edie, and my thanks to you on behalf of Cliff Avenue United Church as well as First United for a GOOD JOB well done! Lori Perry, a church attender at Cliff Avenue United, unfortunately was unable to join the team since she had to attend to a medical emergency of the 90+ old father. She did however, collect and have Bobtoc turn in donations to the cause. Our thanks, and my thanks on behalf of the church, Lori. No figures on the amount collected or to be collected by the team at this time. 
Coquitlam Cruisers:
On Thursday Feb 23 Jennel summarized her week’s running activity saying that she stretched over the week a total of 43.4 km, a bitRod reports: 5 and a half cruisers, Edie, Laura, new member Gillian (friend of Flora’s – yes, Flora does have friends!!!} Eoin, Rod went out on a clear but cold night as far as the old Sears in Lake City and return. Time out about 1 hr, distance 5km. Lots of discussion about the world in general.
Flora is believed to be injured (possibly a hand injury caused by pulling a Visa Card from purse at wrong angle), Bob abstained after a hard days work at the Church, not wishing to brave the cold.
Not the best night of the year, nor the coldest, but at least dry and none of the white stuff. More of that to come yet.
Rod
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel reports: Heather & Jennel met at Town Centre…we ran 1 lap around the perimeter of the Park, then made our way to the Track on the inside and completed many laps (which felt nice on the knees)..then ran back to our respective homes…..12.92km each.