April 1st:Seven Cruisers, a surprising number considering four Cruisers will be running the Fool’s Run  Gibsons  to Sechelt Sunday and three are in California,  met at the Centre on a sunny and warm Saturday, temperature approx. 16C.  The destination for the day was Como Lake once again for the runners and lesser distances for the walkers.  Len, Laura, Alex and Bobtoc opted for the run (rog for the older chap) to the Lake, pairs being Len and Laura, and  Alex and Bobtoc.  Walkers were Rick, Miriam and Eoin.  The seven left the Centre, headed north to Willoughby Ave then east to

Lyndhurst, crossing North Road at Smith St into Coquitlam.  The walkers continued to Como Lake Street from which they headed south, then west eventually back to the Centre with the exception of Eoin who continued with Bobtoc to MacIntosh Street from which he continued back to the Centre, his time being approx. 1:20 including  a visit to the library.  In the meantime Len and Laura  ran to Como Lake, and on their way back, met up with Bobtoc and Eoin.  Laura elected to return to Como Lake with Bobtoc to  do an additional lap around the lake before their return to the Centre using Smith Ave in Coquitlam, Lyndhurst St and Willoughby Ave. in Burnaby.  Time to finish for Len, 1:13, for walkers Miriam and Rick and for runner Alex, 1:15, and for Bobtoc and Laura, 1:40.  Best day of the year.


Cruisers in Mexico inset Yes, the real deal!  Some things in life we can count on; certainly Flora with a hot credit card!
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel ran Town Centre Friday morning, a total of 9km and Heather, a fartlek in the evening.  This week their total running is 53 km each.  As Jennel ran home Friday from Town Centre, Terri-Lee pulled up beside her in her blue Mustang.  Nice to see her; she says to say hello to  everyone  Both  Jennel and Heather are registered to run the Terry Fox 10 miler this Sunday starting at Westwood Elementary School, Port Coquitlam, start time is  8:30.  Here is the website if anyone else wants to run: www.terryfox.org/trainingrun
April 4th:On Monday evening, Laura, Eoin and Rachel attended, not sure whether they walked or ran or both or some did and some did other, etc.  It was a recovery day for those who did the Fool’s Run the previous day.
On Wednesday evening, Bobtoc, RA Edie and canine April, Laura, Eoin, Cheryl, Alex and Larry walked (Bobtoc rogged) to the nature house at Burnaby Lake, fully enjoying the sunny daylight and mild temperature, and we even made it back to Cameron Centre before dusk set in.  Gotta love the spring weather!   Time was 1h 35m thereabouts, distance close to 7 km. 
On Sunday, April 3, Larry, Cheryl, Alex, Libby and Laurie Hilborn ran the Fool’s Run Half Marathon from Gibsons to Sechelt.  The weather was perfect – a cloud cover with some sun, no rain, mild weather, and a challenging course.  We were all ready for that hill at the 14 K mark.  Thanks to Libby and Bill for their hospitality and a great, relaxing time at their “resort” in Roberts Creek.  A spectacular view of the ocean!  Larry and Cheryl were not the only ones who had a nap while waiting for and during the ferry ride home after the race! 



Cruiser results (chip times):
Alex      2:40:37
Laurie   2:57:37
Libby    2:40:12
Cheryl  2:17:05
Larry    2:11:49  
     On Sunday April 3rd, Laura ran the 16k Terry Fox Run and Eoin walked part of it.

From Jennel and the Coquitlam Cruisers:   Heather walked 6km on Monday….Jennel walked 4km but took it easy on Monday then ran an easy, steady pace Tues. morning 10km (in the RAIN!)  PHEW, it was RAINING…..dry when I left home, got down to Town Centre and the skies opened up and wow, did they ever!  Good thing I had my trusty garbage bag with me!  Jennel ran 2 laps of Town Centre, then back up the hills homeward bound.  Those garbage bags work like a charm!  Even better than the clear ones from the dollar store!!!  Later Tuesday, Heather just couldn’t be left out!  She ended up getting her 10km in the afternoon….she rubbed it in and said “while it was dry!!!” ha! ha!   Wednesday morning run for Heather & Jennel:  we met and ran together 10km of Fartleks around Town Centre and planned our “next Marathon in Las Vegas 2017”.   I guess we better finish the Vancouver Marathon before we put the “cart before the horse”!!!   On Thursday Jennel walked 7.42km Thursday with her husband.  Heather will be running Friday morning to make her distance for the week.  Both ladies have run a total of 61km this week!  Now that’s dedication and enthusiasm!  


April 9th:  UP THE Creek
Christina and Edie participated in the small Up the Creek Run on Saturday.  The day was perfect and the scenery was spectacular.  Unfortunately, the prayer on my shirt didn’t come true – I was last.  But it was good to be out there doing the first 10k since Eastside 10k in September.

Up the Creek 10 K run results:  
Edie   1:24:25
Christina 1:22:04 



On Saturday, Cruisers were busy at all sorts of events.  The regular run out of Cameron Centre saw Larry, Bobtoc, Laura, Eoin, Ivan and Alex walk and run along Eastlake up to Duthie Ave. past the SuperValu formerly known as IGA, and return.  Ivan turned around just before the golf course so his run was a little shorter.  Eoin walked to Pinehurst, just over 7 km, while the rest did a distance of 11 km.  Time for Larry was 1h 50m, taking it easy after doing a half marathon last weekend, and for the rest of the group was 1h 56m, with Alex also taking it easy after last weekend’s half marathon.  The weather was spectacular – sunny, mild, spring-time with a smell of flowers blooming, possibly the best day of the year so far.       
Rod went out for an 11 K run, time 1h 20m.
Flora and Ross ran the Transplant Trot 5 K run! 

Here are pictures from our Saturday symbolic Ride to Mile Zero Victoria and tire dip in the Pacific Ocean.
The next leg of our journey begins May 9th…across Canada to the Atlantic ocean.             

                                                                                                  


                      

Monday April 11th:  Alex, Edie, Eoin and Laura, Rachel, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre Wednesday and ran, rogged or walked south and west, destination the nature house and Piper Spit on a warm with cloud, no precip evening.  Time was spent at the spit viewing the geese, ducks and ducklings, the beaver dams, and on the way back, two Wolf Cub packs complete with their Akelas, Baloos and some parents on nature walks, each pack having a Sixer with a clip board and pencil taking notes.  Lord Baden Powell would be proud indeed.  Distance for the return trip, 7.4 km plus another .6 for Rod who did a few bobturns.  Times varied between1;20 and 1:32 inclusive of the time at the Spit. 
Coquitlam Cruisers marathon training:
On Monday Jennel did not do a 32 km run due to knee pain, but an 8 km walk, route being down Parkway Blvd., over on to David, down the Coquitlam Crunch to Lansdowne, and back up the Crunch again. 
On Tuesday Jennel & Heather ran in the morning.   Jennel’s knee pain cleared up; problem was new shoes.  Met at Town Centre and ran a couple of laps, then they both ran along David up to Shaughnessy and ran up .5km or so then back to Heather’s where Heather ended her run at 10.68km and Jennel continued on to make her long run today.  Jennel ran back up Shaughnessy to Prairie, then turned around and went home; total distance 24.56 

Norman Law – Hong Kong Marathon


April 13th:  Alex, Cheryl, Eoin and Laura, Larry,  Libby, Rod and Bobtoc turned out at the Centre Wednesday on a cloudy 9C evening.  The group turned westward to use the route to the IGA corner, with some variances.  Rod at Arden Drive ran up Shellmont to Underhill then east on Forest Grove Drive then the pedestrian overpass and Beaverbrook to to return to the Centre; distance and time 7.5 km and 1:02.  Eoin started out with Alex walking.  Eoin continued his walk to the IGA corner and

back, distance 9.5 km, time longer than the others, but he did exceptionally well with not too much strain on his knees.   A GREAT performance.  Cheryl, Larry and Laura ran to the IGA corner and return, distance the 9.5 km, time 1:20. Libby and Bobtoc ran and rogged also to the IGA corner, were joined by Alex who also returned to the Centre, their distance 9.5 km and time 1:38.

Coquitlam Cruisers marathon training count-down:
Jennel Ran to Heather’s house Thursday morning, then the two of them ran around Town Centre once, Jennel ran back to Heather’s then home (she had to make up some extra mileage).  Heather ran a total of 6km and Jennel ran 15.7. 




Alex, Flora,  Eoin and Laura, Larry, Pat. Rod, Sherian,  Bobtoc ran the Sun Run yesterday on a  perfect day; whether it be weather, scenery, music, water stops, biffies ( in abundance enroute) , overall organization.  Most Cruisers Skytrained downtown deliberately late, avoided the hour or more-long wait, joined the tail end of a group just given the OK to start, and were in the race within 5 or so minutes of arriving on Burrard from the Burrard Skytrain station. 
Highlights:
 
Pat Hargraves             8th overall in her age group
Sherian Kelly              10th overall in her age group
Stats:
Eoin Farrelly                1:47:42
Laura Farrelly              1:05:05:
Pat Hargreaves           1:03:28
Rod Hargreaves         1:15:36
Flora Johnson             1:35:03
Sherian Kelly              1:05:05
Edie Kernighan           1:35:03
Larry Kuhn                  1:02:04
Bob Kuhn                    1:38:14
Alex Lau                      1:02:41
                                               
The above participants plus athletic supporters Ross Johnson, Marie Kuhn met and lunched at the Burnaby Mountain Golf Club patio, and continued to enjoy the perfect weather, conversation and food; a fitting finale to the day.  Bobtoc celebrated his 26th running of the Sun Run, and for it, wore his first Sun Run shirt, cotton material, the run having taken place April 17, 1988.  His time on that occasion was sub one…  oh well.
Coquitlam Cruisers marathon training countdown from last week:
Heather and Jennel ran a total of 64 km this week; too tired to explain more.  Good luck in the Sun Run tomorrow.
Coquitlam Cruisers marathon training this week:
Jennel, Heather and husband jin did their LAST long run Monday morning, a 23 km run from Heather’s home, down Shaughnessy, down Prairie along the Coquitlam dyke and back; and it was WARM out, but we did it.


Monday April 18th;  Cruisers met for a walk up Stoney Creek, south on North Road and back to Cameron using the side streets. 

Rocky Point in Springtime – 
Doesn’t get more beautiful than than this!


Wednesday April 20th:  On Wednesday Alex, Flora, Larry, Libby, Rod and Bobtoc met  at the Centre on a  warm evening.   Taking into account the SunRun on Sunday and the relatively hot temperature the six chose to walk, using the Stoney Creek trail to North Road, north to Chapman Ave., east to Robinson St, south as far as Appian Way, west to Whiting Avenue, west through a right of way to North Road and back to the Centre.  Distance and time, 6.6 km and 1:26 respectively.

Saturday April 23rd:  On Saturday morning nine hardy souls showed up on a  warmish   but

threatening- with- rain morning.  Rain was minor and  did not deter Len, Susan Vedoy, Edie and Flora, Larry, Laura, Roksanna (a work colleague of Flora),Rod and Bob from venturing west on the Central Valley Greenway route.   Len and Susan walked to the Burnaby City Recycling centre and return; their time and distance,  1:14 and 6.6 km.   Edie and Flora ran to the Home Depot just west of Gilmore Ave; their time and distance, 10 km and 1:30 respectively.  Larry, Rod, Laura, Roksanna and Bobtoc set out west, Larry and Rod at  faster clips.  Larry ran to Victoria Drive and return; his time  2hrs and distance 18 km; Rod ran to Renfrew and return, his time 1:54 ,and distance 14.5; Roksanna, Laura and Bobtoc also ran to Renfrew and return; their distance the same 14.5 km; time to finish for Roksanna and Laura not known but well less than that of Bobtoc, running solo, which was 2:37. Bobtoc was greeted and escorted back to Sperling Avenue by Larry, Laura and Roksanna.  All in all, a great morning.

Coquitlam Cruisers:  Jennel and Heather ran Thursday in the Town Centre area, 14 km for Jennel, 16.5 km for Heather. 

Monday April 25th:  Seven Cruisers:  RA Edie with canine April, Eoin and Laura, Stormin’ Norman Lum who was a welcome surprise, Rod, Shiraz and Bobtoc met at the Centre on a cool but no precip evening Monday.  The route included the Stoney Creek trail to North Road, north to Chapman Ave to Robinson to Ebert or Appian Way for runners Laura and Norman and roggers Rod and Bobtoc.  The time for Laura and Norman was approx.. 1:07, for Rod and Bobtoc 1:14, distance for the runners, 6.6 km. The route for the walkers was not so far; the writer not sure of their route.  Edie came in separate from Eoin and Shiraz. 

Coquitlam Cruisers in taper mode:   Their thanks and an invitation to join them after their marathon.
Heather and  Jennel met at the corner of Pinetree & David, then ran slowly up to Starbucks on Parkway Blvd. and enjoyed a coffee; chatted and reminisced about our past marathon (s) and the excitement of this Sunday.  (6km total) We want to extend our thanks to all of the Cameron Cruisers for joining in the journey with us and allowing us to be part of the newsletter…”trust us when we tell you”, that has kept us going at some points in this training process.   We’re going to have fun, run together and come out uninjured!  Then join our families at Red Robins for well deserved BIG hamburgers.

Wednesday April 27th:  On Wednesday night, Cheryl, Larry, Eoin, Laura and Stormin’ Norman attended.  Eoin walked along with the runners on the Stoney Creek trail, then the four runners ran up North Road, along Chapman, Robinson to Ebert, and back to the Centre, distance 6.6 km, with Norman leading the way in under 1 hour, Larry a couple of minutes behind, and Cheryl and Laura about 5 minutes after.  A beautiful evening for a run!   The Cruiser leader was watching the Whitecaps chaps tie Sporting Kansas City (no comment about the referee!).          
Jennel reports that she and Heather did 8 km around Town Centre on Wednesday.  The excitement builds for Jennel, Heather, Rob and Norman for their runs this Sunday – may “the force” be with them. 
       
Six Cruisers appeared Saturday on a warm and bright morning. Flora, Larry, Laura, Rod, Susan and Bobtoc  rogged/jogged/ran east using the Stoney Creek trail to North Road, Chapman Ave. to Robinson St, south to  Foster where Larry parted company with the others to proceed to Mundy Park, the others continuing  east to Lakeshore Drive into Como Lake for one lap, then back to Foster running west, where Larry met the five, then all six returned to Robinson St, south to Appian Way, west through Whiting Ave. to North Road to return to the Centre.  Time for all, 2:16, distance approx. 9.5 for those who went to Como Lake, and 12 for Larry.