May 2nd:  Eight Cruisers gathered at the Centre Saturday on a somewhat cloudy but no precip morning, temperature not quite +10C,  The eight: Alex, Edie, Rachel, Larry, Terri-Lee, Laura, Susan Vedoy and Bobtoc started their running and walk/runs by heading west.  They evolved enroute into four groups;  Alex to do 8.5 km return, time 1:05; RA Edie and Rachel to run to the Supervalu corner and return; distance 9:58, time 1:24; Susan and Boboc also to run the SV corner and return, distance 9:58, time 1:36,  and the lsd runners Larry, Laura and Terri-Lee through to the Kensington Ice Area continuing to Howard Avenue on Francis Street and return, distance 19 km, time 2:25, and  for Laura, a few more minutes.

From the Coquitlam contingent:
Jennel and  Heather met late Thursday morning close to Lafarge Lake and ran back towards the park to run 2 full laps around Town Centre.  Out of breath & exhausted, we pause momentarily to debrief and end our conversation, when we heard “GET RUNNING!!!”  We looked around and there was Heather’s husband, James on his bicycle and dog Burrow heading home.  We tried to tell James that we really do run and not just stand around talking ..ha! ha!…..I think he believed us!?! LOL Anyhow, we ended up running 11.40 km.  The rain started to fall as Jennel got closer to home…so almost a dry run:)  Hope Heather didn’t get rained on her run back home!!!

May 4th: Seven Cruisers met at the Centre Monday on an evening promising showers but surprisingly the showers did not show up for the running and walking.  All seven moved east into Coquitlam; walkers Alex, RA Edie and Bobtoc started north on Willoughby Ave, east on  North Road, crossed  at Smith Ave, east to Fairview Street then south to Appian Way with a dipsy doodle in and out of a lane before moving south, then west to North Road and Cameron Street back to the Centre; distance and time 4:9 km , 61 minutes.  Runners Larry, Laura, Shiraz and Terri-Lee also started on Willoughby Avenue, east on North Road, crossed at Cottonwood then Foster to Como Lake and return; their distance and time 7:6 km, time 1:07.
Congratulations to Laurie Brookbank,  Rob Stagg and   Norman Lum for completing the Vancouver Marathon Sunday.
Times:            
Laurie              4:35
Rob                 3:49
                        Norman           5:11,  an amazing time considering his chronic back problem.
Kudos to Alex for observing at the finish line for five hours!
Well done to all!

May 6th: Eight  Cruisers met at the Centre Wednesday on a warm evening with no hint of rain.  Alex, Edie, Larry, Libby, Rachel, Rod, Terri-Lee and Bobtoc ran/walked to Joe’s Trail as well as they could, taking into account some with injuries, and some tapering in anticipation of the upcoming Peach City runs on the long weekend.  The eight covered the route to  the gate at North Road and return, distance 8:5, time 1:14 to 1:17.  The pace quickened near the end of the run due to a rumour of a bear in the area.  No worries; no one scatted.
Rod advised us Pat received in the mail a medal award for taking second place in the Sun Run.  Our congratulations and best wishes to Pat on a fine performance!
From the Coquitlam Contingent:
Jennel ran alone at Town Centre last night (Monday) …5:05km…was dry & beautiful weather for that hour.  Heather was giving a relative a tour of Vancouver all day, so was exhausted by the time she got back home.

May 9th: Seven  Cruisers met at Rocky Point Saturday on a salubrious morning; sunshine, a light breeze, mild temperature, ice cream parlour open (not used however).  Five ran to the pearly gates (Cruiserise for the Ioco gates); distance return 12 km; time for Larry, Laura, Rene, Terri-Lee, 1:20 ; for Alex who is still recovering from his knee injury, 1:40.  Susan Vedoy and Bobtoc ran/walked to April Road and return; distance approx.. 9 km, time 1:40. 
RA Edie and Rachel ran the Run for Women at UBC on Saturday; 10km; times, 1:22 for Rachel, 1:27 for Edie.  Good showing!  Edie reports the run was well-organized, the route was great, lots of swag, perfect weather.
Rod was on duty at the annual Salmon Sendoff, at the Stoney Creek Elementary School grounds, fundraising by selling bird houses kits, fabricated over the winter months. 
Len Soet  has been in Brazil on a mission constructing a church there, with others from his Willingdon Church.  He also unfortunately is suffering from plantar fasciitis.  Get well soon, Len.  

May 10th:Jennel went for a run on Sunday for Mother’s Day.  Tony took both girls to swimming lessons and they told me to go enjoy a run!  So that I did!  I ran 15km to Pipeline, then up to Lougheed Hwy. where Safeway is (around that area a bit) then over to Pinetree, down to Town Centre Park…all over the place really! Then I got a text from Heather saying her son saw me and I was walking!  So Heather told me to pick up the pace!  I just don’t run as well without my running buddy!!!  Anyhow, I ended up doing close to 15km.  Weather was great!  Then I could enjoy a nice Mother’s Day dinner & ICE CREAM!!!  guilt-free!!! lol.=

May 16th:Rick & Laura did an hour’s run on Joe’s Trail & back, a nice cool morning.
Happy loooong weekend,
May 17th:  This weekend was a good one for the Penticton Cruisers contingent!  Nine Cruisers and athletic supporters (plus Rod and Pat who were in Kelowna) made the trip to the mostly sunny Okanagan city.  The only cloudy day was the day of the races, Sunday, which was mostly cloudy and rained early in the morning and at the beginning of the half marathon and 10 km runs, but the rain stopped and it was a pleasant, cool time as the runners completed their races.   The other days were sunshine, sunshine and sunshine and warm temperatures – mostly 22-25 C.  Alex and Angela, Flora and Ross, Larry, Edie and friend Linda were there through to Monday, while John and Christina Saremba were there earlier and left Sunday.  All enjoyable company as we dined together each evening.  Among the Cruiser race finishers were three award winners who placed in the top three of their respective age groups!    The results below:
10K
Edie           1h 22:52   2nd in her age group
Flora          1h 23:19
Half Marathon
Alex           2h 21:54   1st in his age group!!!
Terri Lee    2h 32:36   3rd in her age group   (PS: Terri-Lee, Edie has your medal.)    
Larry          2h 08:54      

May 20th:  On Wednesday night, it was a stellar summer-like evening, a great evening for a walk, so that’s what we did.  Rod, Libby, Terri-Lee, Alex, Larry, RA Edie and canine April enjoyed the fantastic weather by walking the Stoney Creek trail to North Road, Chapman to Robinson to Cottonwood, a bit of a turn back to North Road, into Sullivan Heights neighbourhood and back to Cameron Centre.  Time 1h 32m, distance 6.6ish km.   

May 23rd:  On Saturday, Alex, Rod, Terri-Lee, Larry, Edie, Flora and Sherian took the Skytrain and met Alex at the Waterfront Station and started our run along the boardwalk of the West Convention Centre through to the Westin Bayshore and on to the Stanley Park seawall, taking in the magnificent scenery of the park that reminds one just how beautiful it is and how many times a year one gets out there (not enough!).  There was some cloud and for awhile we thought it was going to rain but it did not so it turned out to be a great day for a run.  We stopped for coffee/tea and some refreshments at Tim Horton’s but of course no one had lardballs.  Distance ran 14.5 km, time 2 hours and a bit more for Flora and Edie.  Rod ran from home to the Production Way Skytrain and back when we returned, adding 4.5 km to his distance for a total of 19 km, just short of a half marathon!  The Production Way station was operating with only one rail line open due to some sort of malfunction that had not been fixed yet.  Rumours of the problem being caused by the Burquitlam station opening were heard, although no verification of this rumour could be made.      
Rachel could not make the Stanley Park run but she reports that she did a double loop around Central Park following the Terry Fox route which is about 5k.  Time was about 1hr 15m with stops along the way to admire the ducks and cute little ducklings.
Here is a tip from Jennel…I found an amazing “CURE” for the “runners chaffing problem” – If you go for a long run and forget to put on any anti-chaffing cream……I found that “PENTATEN” (a cream for diaper rash) works instantaneously.  Put on overnight and you’re fixed by morning!!!  One of the benefits of having little kids in the house!  You always have that stuff lying around!  

May 24th:  2015 Shaughnessy 8K was held in Kerisdale  at 8:30 this Sunday morning.

The weather was like yesterday, cool and party cloudy ; a perfect day to run

Total finishers 242 ; 140 men and 102 women.

Two Cruisers took part in the race:
Rene  40:48    12th in the M6064 age group
Alex   46:57     7th in the M6569

Why you should run this race :
Low registration fee : early bird $25. day of race $30
T shirt is optional. You can buy last years shirt for $5.00 Current year only $13.
A lot of door prices. (Rene won a door price too : a free entry to the Scotia Van Half Marathon)
Even volunteers are eligible to win door prices.

The Importance of Walking – submitted by Laura
Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month.
   My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60.
    Now he’s 97 years old and we don’t know where he is.
 
  I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
 
  The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

   I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I’m doing…
  
  I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks.  Haven’t lost a pound.  Apparently you have to go there.
 
  Every time I hear the dirty word ‘exercise’, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
 
  The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they’ll say,  ‘Well, she looks good doesn’t she.’
 
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
  
  I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years,……
    Just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older because there’s a lot more information in our heads. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
  
  AND

Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine.

May 25th:  On Monday night, four cruisers were out – Terri-Lee, Flora, Shiraz and Rod, and they did the Eastlake to Underhill route, taking Forest Grove back to Cameron Centre on a cloudy and somewhat cooler evening.  Distance 7.5 km, time 1 hour.    Thanks to Rod for the report. 

My apologies for not including Alex in the report on the Cruisers crew that went to Stanley Park on Saturday!   He was with us, and then on Sunday he did the Shaughnessy 8K with René…here is his report:
2015 Shaughnessy 8K was held in Kerrisdale  at 8:30 this Sunday morning.
The weather was like yesterday, cool and partly cloudy ; a perfect day to run

Total finishers 242 ; 140 men and 102 women.

Two Cruisers took part in the race:
René  40:48    12th in the M6064 age group
Alex   46:57     7th in the M6569

Why you should run this race :
Low registration fee : early bird $25. day of race $30
T shirt is optional. You can buy last year’s shirt for $5.00  Current year only $13.
A lot of door prizes. (René won a door prize too : a free entry to the Scotia Van Half Marathon!!  Wow!)
Even volunteers are eligible to win door prizes.

Thanks Alex for the report!


May 27th:  On Wednesday evening, it was a warm, sunny summer night as Terri-Lee, Rod, Larry, Flora, Edie, Rachel, Alex and Libby ran Joe’s Trail and back after attempting to meet Rachel who was running late (had to use that expression!) as the Skytrain was delayed for a short while.  Of course the group headed through the Lougheed Mall parking lot just as Rachel was heading up Erickson Drive, so we missed each other going the other way, but did manage to find each other near Cameron Centre.  This little adventure added about 0.5 km to our distance, for a total of about 8.5 km and a time of approximately 1h 10m on average.   As Rod says, every step counts!   
Thank you for the card and gift for my thirteenth 39th birthday.  
             
Larrytheyounger   

May 30th:  On Saturday morning, Terri-Lee, Larry, Rod, Edie, Alex, Laura, Flora and Rachel started out on a sunny day, at first thinking the temperature was a wee bit cool, but that sure changed after about half an hour as we headed along our way using Eastlake, past the Super Valu (old IGA), crossed Duthie and onwards to Kensington Rink, and returned the same way.  It was warm enough for sure.  Distance 16 km (don’t believe those satellite Garmen-type things that tell you it’s less distance, ‘cause it isn’t!) and times varied as Larry and Terri-Lee came in at about 2h 05m, Rod just after at about 2:08, Edie and Rachel at about 2:20 and Laura, Alex and Flora who walked partway back at about 2:30.  A great day for a walk and run.  Much discussion about the Scotiabank Half and a few more of us will likely be signing up.  Rod had his Arsenal jersey on in preparation for their FA Cup game against Aston Villa.  Fortunately for Rod it was a good result as Arsenal won 4-0.