December 3rd: Rachel, Flora, Rod and Edie did the Forest Grove loop on Wednesday night.  Our time was 1:30 for 7+k.  We had to watch for ice but it wasn’t too bad and it was a lovely night.  We didn’t see any cougars of the human or 4 legged ilk so it was all good!

December 5th: On Saturday, Bobtoc and Rod walked Joe’s Trail and met the other runners partway, then returned to Cameron Centre, time 1h 11m, distance 6 km.  Runners Terri-Lee, Larry, René and Rick ran Joe’s Trail to North Road and back, then, feeling spry, kept going into the Burnaby Lake trails to the nature house, then returned to Cameron Centre, time 1h 20m, distance 11.25 km.  It was raining out there but once we got wet it didn’t matter, we were happy to be out there with no ice or snow, and as Terri-Lee says, it doesn’t get any wetter than this!  

December 8th:RA Edie reports that Laura, Alex and herself were crazy enough to turn out at Cameron in the downpour tonight.  The three of them walked to Eastlake and Underhill, then Alex ran to Meadowood while Laura and Edie retraced their steps to Cameron.  Laura gave up on her umbrella after trying to keep it up despite wind gusts.  Alex did 8.5k in 1:12 and Laura and Edie were out an hour.  Laura and Edie waited to make sure Alex returned safely then all went home to dry off.  It was nice to have mild temperatures.  Edie says she was quite dry in her rain gear.  A medal of courage to all three for withstanding the monsoon!   

On Wednesday, it was wet.  That’s an understatement!  Larry, Terri-Lee, Libby, Laura, Flora and Rachel met inside Cameron Centre, waiting to see which one of us was going to go out into the monsoon.  We all decided to take the plunge as a group – you know “we will all go down together” – joy in numbers and all that stuff, but there wasn’t joy with the weather – so we started out going along Cameron to Noel Drive, and were caught in one of the heaviest downpours ever seen by this observer, with the rain bouncing off the road a good three feet high, and all of us were instantly drenched.  There was some talk of quitting but knowing we’d never hear the end of it from others (who curiously didn’t show up) we continued, giving it ten more minutes.  Rachel, with an exam to write the next day, wisely decided not to put her health at risk, and turned back.  We were starting to think we should have too, but then, as we ran to Eastlake and Underhill, a miracle occurred…it stopped raining. Lord have mercy!  We decided to celebrate this new weather by doing hillwork 2X up Underhill – how else do runners in training celebrate?! – and then continued along the Forest Grove route, Gaglardi overpass, and back to the Centre.  Time 1h 10m, distance 8.3 km.  A quick cool down was done to avoid getting chills, and then us drowned rats were off to home and hearth – and warm showers too.   Ya know, maybe it wasn’t the best night of the year, but in a warped way it was fun…        
I understand that Bobtoc, Edie and Rod were going to walk today.  Better weather hopefully.
Jennel report: On Monday evening, Heather & Jennel chose not to venture into the dark, cold, wet weather with the bears & the cougars (animal and human types).  We played it safe and stayed warm & dry – we ran for 1 hour around Port Moody Rec. Centre indoor track.  Then wrapped it up at Starbucks across the way with a nice “calorie-free” eggnog latte and Peppermint Latte.  As Rainy says, “we’re not keeping track of calorie intake”, but we did RUN the Track!!!  So, that’s track of something!!! lol

Edie met Bobtoc promptly at his home 9:00 am Thursday for a walk.  The duo walked west to the apothecary shop at Rosser and Hastings, had coffee at the Aritigiano coffee shop adjoining, then walked back to toc’s  home, analyzing and critiquing houses enroute on the various streets.  Weather was dry, temperature mild.  My thanks to Edie.  Guestimated distance 6 km,  total time including coffee and pit stop,2hr 6 min.

Dec 6th: …And the theme today is no precip – rain, sleet nor snow.  On Saturday, Larry, Terri-Lee and Len ran to Kensington Rink and returned, using Eastlake, Underhill, Broadway, Arden, Greystone, etc., with Len running part way in bare feet on the return portion as the weather was so mild and dry.  Time 2h 07m, distance 16 km.  So much more enjoyable without rain!   Laura, Rod and Bobtoc walked the usual Forest Grove Drive using Underhill.  A tree blow-down was encountered on Underhill from Friday night’s storm, also damage within the treed area on the east side of Underhill.   Time to finish 1h 30m, distance approx. 7.5 km, also no rain.   

December 6th: Laurie, Rachel, Darlene and Edie participated in the Ugly Sweater Run today, the first two ran and the last two walked.  The route was great, went on some streets we hadn’t been on before.   It was a small run but lots of fun.  We got toques for the run and hot chocolate at the water stations. The warm up was very entertaining as were some of the outfits.  It was Laurie’s first run as a grandma.  After the run we ordered the children’s breakfast at the pub before returning on the sky train home.  No rain.

December 14th:On Monday night, Rod, Terri-Lee, Louise, Laura, Flora and Larry enjoyed a rainless evening by running past the Stoney Creek school, across the Gaglardi overpass, along Forest Grove, up that big “friendly” or as Rod says “effin” hill, through the Forest Grove area, turned down Shellmont into the Meadowood subdivision to enjoy the Christmas lights on the houses, then returned along Broadway, Underhill, Eastlake, etc.  It was a nice clear evening although it did get a bit chilly towards the end.  Most of us wore Santa hats so nice to see people getting into the season.  RA Edie stopped by to say hello and model her new Ugly Sweater toque.  Yes it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so far without the snow…

From Jennel: Heather & I ran 1 hour at PMRC indoor track then made our way over to Starbucks.  No calorie-free latte…we both enjoyed a decaf Americano coffee instead.  Good run!  Then exchanged gifts, which were both food!!!  lol.         
Last Wednesday RA Edie and Rod picked Bobtoc up at his home at 9:00 am for a walk.  The day started out no precip with light overcast.  The trio headed west toward Burnaby Heights; dropped off Rx’s for Bob and Marie, at the apothecary on Hastings at Rosser,  then continued on to Confederation Park for a one lap walk on the oval.  The trio then returned to Artigiano Coffee House for coffee and relief at their restroom, picked up said prescriptions and headed east back to Bobtoc’s home, using Rosser Avenue south to  Frances St, to Willingdon to Parker St to Delta Ave to Eastlawn to Highlawn to Springer Ave past Beecher Park, east on Springdale to Howard Avenue then up the last hill (hills being our friends) on Heathdale Court.  The trio experienced light rain when leaving the coffee house, and rain became a bit heavier for the rest of the walk.   Distance 7.5 km,  time inclusive of coffee and pit stop, about 2h 40m.   A great walk and great companionship.  Improvement in Bobtoc’s detached retina procedure noted!!!
Rainy reports that 70 people turned out to the O Run All Ye Faithful event on Sunday.  Sounds like it was a fun time.    

Staff reporters RA Edie and Rod informed about Wednesday night – RA Edie, Rachel, Laura, Flora, Terri-Lee, Libby and Rod turned out.  Rachel and RA Edie walked 3.89 km precisely on the streets behind Cameron and checked out the Xmas lights, while Laura, Flora, Terri-Lee, Libby and Rod did the usual up through Lake City, up the effin’ (friendly) Underhill 3X (yay hills!), returning to Cameron Centre by way of the Forest Grove route .   According to Terri-Lee the time was 1h 25m and distance 8.5 km.
On Saturday, a great turnout on a pretty good day for a run – no rain, not too cold.  RA Edie, Bobtoc, Rod, Laura, Terri-Lee, Alex, Len, Rick and Larry attended to the Cameron Centre for the special ceremony of the investiture of the Fallers’ Trophy to Alex and Laura to commemorate their recent falls suffered during runs in the past couple of weeks.  From witness statements, Alex’s fall was deemed more spectacular so he gets the trophy first.  Quite an honour to have it displayed over the mantle for the Christmas season no doubt!  And especially so since it’s been refurbished thanks to Rod, who took great care of it.  We anticipate some competition for this thing of beauty, not that we’re
 
encouraging anyone to fall!  After this big event, Bobtoc left for home duty on orders from his bride, RA Edie and canine April walked, Rod and Laura ran along Eastlake, Underhill, Broadway, golf course to Duthie and back (about 11 km, time estimated at over 1 hour), and Larry, Rick, Terri-Lee, Alex and Len kept going to Kensington Rink, along Curtis/Parker to Howard, up to Frances St., through the Burnaby North high school fields, and back to the Centre the same way, distance 17.7 km, time about 2h 30m, with Terri-Lee doing a bit extra to get to 18 km on the dot. 

Rocky Point under water on a gorgeous winter day.

The Jennel Report:  Oh gosh, been getting LOTS of running in.  Just the other day…it was a SPRINT of my life!  Someone offered me a beautiful huge doll house (their daughters have outgrown it, so they offered it to mine), but I had to pick it up in Belcarra!  NICE!!!  Anyhow, I went to go get it.  It was HUGE and BEAUTIFUL!!!  WOW!!  Merry Christmas!   I had to remove all the car seats, and fold down the rear seats to make the truck big enough to hold this.  I got home just in the knick of time but had NO time to take out the dollhouse, put the car seats back in etc. before I had to pick up Sofia at preschool!  So, I did what any reasonable runner would do….I parked the car, threw on my running shoes and SPRINTED to Sofia’s preschool in the pouring rain to get her!!!  Got her, then walked full speed ahead to Anamaria’s school …running out of time, so I flung Sofia on my back and picked up the pace.  Holding two umbrellas and a bag full of school shoes, crafts etc. (good upper body workout for sure!)  Just made it to Anamaria’s school, got her & we all walked back uphill to home!  Good grief!  All that running around……I definitely can have an eggnog latte or two for sure this festive holiday!!! lol   * Schools are about a good 20 min. walk apart!!!  with a 4 year old and only a 15 minute time difference between school bells…..not as easy as you’d think!!!  But we did it:)  PHEW!!!

Merry Christmas!!!  Editor’s note: Never a dull moment Jennel!!!  
On Monday evening, Rod, Larry, Terri-Lee, Flora and Laura ran while Bobtoc and Rachel walked.  The runners ran along Eastlake, Underhill 1X (give us a break, it’s Christmas!), Forest Grove, over the Gaglardi overpass and back to the Centre, while Bobtoc and Rachel walked part of the route then met up with the runners on the way back.  Distance 7 km, time 1h 10m.  It was a really nice night to be out as it was mild and it was not raining, although not as good as California weather according to Rod.  Definitely not a white Christmas this year!  It really doesn’t get any better than this at this time of year. 
From Rod:  Missed the 500 steps as I was trying to finish repairing the workshop floor so I could move the freezer back before Christmas.   Went out later in the day from home up through Lake City then along to Shellmont.  1X up Shellmont and back through Forest Grove.  Time  1h 18m, distance about 10 km.

From RA Edie:  We couldn’t have asked for a better day, the weather was perfect and the trails were in great shape, despite the previous day’s monsoon.  It was Libby and my first time on the 500 steps.  The views of Burrard Inlet were spectacular and all of us realize how lucky we are to live here.   We climbed the steps and trail to Horizons, stopped to use the facilities and then looped down to the Trans Canada Trail crossroads and back to the Barnet Beach car park.  At first I wondered what I was thinking going up all those stairs but I made it.  The way back was “downhill” with some undulation and one big effin’ hill!  Total distance was 10km and time was about 2h 20m.  The others would have made better time without the Rear Admiral but we all enjoyed being out.  Some parts of the trail reminded me of Britain and I missed my walking poles.   Too bad some Cruisers had to keep the economy going by going to work.😢.  Alex brought Apple chips and I brought chocolate so the four of us had a “balanced” snack afterwards. 

On Saturday, Rod, Len, Alex, Larry, Ivan, Laura, Bobtoc, RA Edie and Christina attended and set out to run or walk, with Bobtoc, RA Edie and Christina walking Forest Grove route  and the rest headed out along Beaverbrook, Eastlake, Underhill, Broadway and Arden to SuperValu, and on the way back, made the not-unanimous vote (as usual!) to go up Shellmont to Forest Grove, met the three walkers along the way, then back to Cameron Centre.  It was a grey day with a bit of rain at the start, and it was tough at first shaking off the turkey effect, but we kept at it and got ‘er done!  Time for the runners 1h 21m, distance 10 km, and 7.1k for the walkers in 1:40.      
December 29th:On Monday night, there was a bit o’ chill in the air but it was clear and even though it wasn’t a full moon, that moon was pretty bright, as Larry was paced on his run doing the Forest Grove route starting along Beaverbrook, past the Stoney Creek school, over the Gaglardi overpass, up the big friendly (really?) hill, down Underhill and back along Eastlake etc.  Time, a somewhat brisk 53 minutes, distance 7.5 km.  Bobtoc and Flora did the walking thing along the Forest Grove route and finished about 15 minutes after Larry.  

Laura reports that she did a 30 minute swim at the Canada Games pool.  Excellent cross training!
        
Happy New Year everyone!