February Blues

Is it just me....but don't you just look forward to the runs where you don't have to be all bundled up.

Ok, so I have decided that I would run all this winter in shorts as I did last year. But let me tell you, that there  have been more -20 wind chill days in January as there was all last year. So next year when I have this brain storm again, please remind me to read this entry on the blog.

Wednesday January 30th Komoka night run was in +14 degree weather with the trail being one part river and the one part she sucking mud. So you ended up wet and coated in thick mud, and yes I loved it.

The following morning on my way to the gym, there was 10 cm of snow and a temperature of -5 and falling.

I was thinking of having some sort of trail runners get together so we can tell tale tails of former greatness as well as sipping on a beverage some place. Just something to celebrate half way through winter or something. I will keep you posted.

New Years Day Fun Run

Well leave it to runners to show up in droves when there is food and alcohol.

Doris and Peter Benson offered up their home in Delaware as the gathering spot for the New Years Day Fun Run.

They kept it a secret that the last 1/2 km had one hideous hill, but the course was scenic other than that.

For those who keep forgetting (Treena) to send in the 2013 Pacer membership so you can get in on the winter training program for Around The Bay training.

Here is a link to the PDF membership form: http://www.londonpacers.on.ca/AdditionalFiles/MembershipApp2013.pdf

Saturday morning winter runs continue at the Indian Archaeological Museum, off Wonderland between Gainsborough and Fanshawe Road.

Start time is 8:00 am

And Wednesday evening runs continue at Komoka at 6:00 PM 

ps: word of advice, dress shirts do not make good running tops. Just sayin!

We Survived!!

After the party

The end of the world was a bust, but the 'Day after the end of the world party' was a blast.
A special thank you to Robin for hosting this and to her poor husband Stu, who was in charge of cooking endless piles of pancakes and bacon for the trail running group.
We were also waited on by the lovely 3 Ashton girls who, kept the food coming and kept up their end to the many different conversations taking place through the house.
I am sure we have now officially made Robin swear off ever inviting the running group over again, because we actually show up and don't leave.
The next home we demolish is the Benson residence on New Years Day for the Pacer fun run.

After December 22nd Saturday Morning Run

Day After the End of the World Run / Potluck

• Run at Medway Trail at 8:00 as usual
• Potluck brunch afterwards (9:30ish - ?
• Robin Ashtons home just minutes from the trail head
• 1698 Attawandaron Road
• Pancakes and coffee provided by the Ashton clan
• Please bring items for the potluck table (Tim Bits is cheating)
• If the world does not in fact end on December 21, there is no Post-apocalypse 'rain date', sorry
• RSVP robin_ashton@rogers.com

* Please bring a change of clothes so we don't stink the place up

Screw Shoes

Thinking of hibernating because you don’t like the idea of running on ice and snow?

Have you purchased Yak Tracks and seem to lose one every year on the trail?

Let me introduce you to Screw Shoes.
For under $10 bucks you will have enough screws to do yours, and numerous friends after you tell them how great it works.

To make a pair of screw shoes, you need to get a package of 3/8” or 1/2″ x # 8 hex head self taping screws.  These will be available at a Home Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes or your local hardware store.

Next get a socket to fit the end of the hex head screw, a cordless drill, and of course a pair of trail running shoes.

Decide where you want the screws. Don’t place them too close to the edges or in the grooves of the shoe. For best traction the lugs on the heel and the ball of the foot areas of the tread should be your prime target area. There is no set number of screws that should be used, so you can do some test runs to see what works best for you.

If you have a reasonable amount of tread left on your shoes, you shouldn’t have to worry about screw penetration, but make sure to check before you go running in them.

Place the screws in sufficient numbers to cover the ball of the foot area and heel, and anywhere else you like.  Note the random pattern in the photo.

The great thing about the screw shoe is if you lose a few screws , you just screw some more back in,  In the spring you simply unscrew them and you are back on the roads and trails again, no worse for wear.

WARNING!!!

Do not wear them in doors, as they will ruin the finish on hard wood floors or other surfaces, and you will think you are wearing ice skates if you wear them on ceramic tile.

Or do you want to wear them while driving, as you may find that the screw heads do not slide off the gas pedal when going for the break, and that tiny bit of delay could be a cause of an accident.

Soiled Sport 2012 Series Winners

 

 1st Overall Female
Simona Dobransky,












1st Overall Male
Danny (Woo Hoo) Murphy












At the London Pacer's Running Club brunch and awards banquet, the audience was at the edge of their seats in anticipation of who this years winners were of the coveted 'Soiled Sport Series' jacket.
Unfortunately for them they first had to wait for me to go through some of the stories I accumulated over the 30 weeks of the series.
And as you know I never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, also I tend to pick on those who are not present. (less law suits for slander and defamation of character)
Before getting to the overall winners I went through the ten others who make up the 'Dirty Dozen' leaders.

1. Richard B.
2. Michael L.
3. Peter B.
4. Chuck E.
5. Eric M.
6. Joseph F.
7. Melanie R.
8. Heather Mc.H
9. Treena K.
10. Zoe & Johnny Rotten

Thanks to Mountain Hardwear & Columbia for providing overall winners running jackets that they will be proud to wear, and some toques for the 10 others.

Vulture Bait on You Tube

Click on this link:

http://youtu.be/26sAfzsvO98

Yes its true, Vulture Bait Trail Race 2012 is on You Tube.
A race reporter from Get Out There magazine ran the 25k and had glowing remarks on film about the race.
He also said that out of all the races he has reported on in 2012 the VBTR out classed all the others, road and trail, hands down.
And just a heads up, the VBTR 2013 is now officially 25% sold as of Wednesday and with 5 days left of the early-early bird for the 2012 runners, we hope to be at 50% when we close off registration till February at full rates.