2011 Trail Running - Heartland

Our last trail run of 2011 was out on the Heartland mountain bike trails. From Mount Work parking lot, there is an easy wide trail that climbs gently around the north ridge of Mount Work and takes you into the mountain biking area. We ran to the top via Sidewinder and the followed the trails along the upper part of the park to the South End, then back along the bottom. The steepest climb is on the regional trail back up to the ridge as you leave the park. Trails are well marked, but a map of the Mountain Bike Park is a must if you don't want to get lost on the many many winding trails. Easy running as all of the trails are gentle slopes and very soft on the feet.

2011 Trail Running - Mount Doug

A Christmas Eve run on Mount Doug. This is a fairly small park to run, but has some excellent trails around and up and over Mount Doug. The front side trails are easy - the north side a bit rough and the trails to the top steep and rough. Start at the beach parking lot.

2011 Trail Running - Francis King/Stewart Mtn

This is a 22km trail run combining the loop to Francis/King and the loop to Stewart Mountain via McKenzie Creek Trail. This is a hilly run, with some swamps and small streams to cross (feet wet), muddy, loose rocky sections and some very steep sections on Stewart Mountain. McKenzie Creek is a rough trail but fun trail to run.

2011 Trail Running - Elk Lake/Bear Hill

Running the trails at Elk Lake, this time adding on a climb up Bear Hill to the view point near the end of the run. Elk Lake trails are generally flat and easy to navigate. Allow 1.45 for this run if you include the run up Bear Hill. Start at Hamsterley Beach for this run.

2011 Trail Running - Three Peaks Run

The Three Peaks Run is a one-way run from Goldstream Park to Mount Work. While it is only 17km in length, it climbs over three mountains and takes over three hours - allow 3.5 hours to do this run. The start is an easy 1km warm up in Goldstream Park, followed by a vertical 420m climb to the top of Mount Finlayson (this is impossible and dangerous to run). After a nice easy run down the backside of Finlayson, we follow the ridge trails on Gowland Tod Provincial Park to Caleb Pike, then over Holmes Peak and Jocelyn Peak and finally down to the parking lot at Mount Work (Ross Durrance Rd). Fantastic views from the top of the three peaks, well worth it.

2011 Trail Running - Stewart Mountain

Back at Thetis Lake for a run out to Stewart Mountain. The first part of this run is along the south side of the lake, then up to the Gunner Shaw swamp. We join the Stewart Mountain race course and follow that for the remainder of the run. Except on race day this route is not well marked, especially around the second swamp location and on the top of Stewart Mountain. The route is mainly on wide easy to run trails. The climb up Stewart Mountain is very steep with lots of loose rocks on the trail. The way down is just as steep but less rocky. The run starts at the main parking lot at Thetis Lake and takes about 2 hours plus stops.

2011 Trail Running - Jocelyn Hill

Last week we ran from Caleb Pike to Jocelyn Hill; this week we take the harder route from Mount Work. This run is longer than from Caleb Pike and allow an hour each way. The trail has some steep sections, some of the quite long. Once past the waterfall bridge (about 1km from the parking lot) for the most part the trail is rough, with lots of loose rocks and low hanging tree branches. This run takes you on a loop to the top of Jocelyn then looping around the backside to return. The route is not very well signed and there are a few places where it is possible to go wrong, especially if running down the backside of Jocelyn Hill. Park at Mount Work/McKenzie Bight parking Lot then run about 200m south on Ross Durrance Rd to the trailhead.

Welcome

Thought I'd start a blog site to record some of my running activities, starting with the cross-country runs on trail around Victoria.

2011 Trail Running - Caleb Pike

Probably my favourite trail run - a beautiful run along the ridge trails between 250m and 430m above sea level; in places with near vertical drops to the inlet. On a nice day, the views are spectacular and on a bad day, you're running in the clouds. This out and back takes you over Holmes Peak and a loop up to the summit of Jocelyn Peak (the highest point). Trails generally dry and easy to run - but some rocky sections on Jocelyn Hill and some steep climbs to navigate. Access the trail head at the end of Caleb Pike Road in Highlands.

2011 Trail Running - Thetis Lake

Another run at Thetis - this time spending time running the trails west of the lake, hitting the two big swamps and then the full length of McKenzie Creek for the challenge. Returning this time via the top of Seymour Hill for the wonderful views.

2011 Trail Running - Thetis/Francis King

Back out at Thetis, this time for a run out to Francis King park. Following Trillium Trail, then Seaborn and McKenzie Creek to Highlands Rd - from here follow the panhandle trail into Francis King park. Looping around the the park and then back to the Panhandle - back to the parking lot via Trillium and the east side of the lake (the three hills). Allow 1 hour, 20 minutes plus stops to run it. Seaborn and McKenzie creek are extremely technical trails and difficult to run (but fun).

2011 Trail Running - Elk Lake

Elk Lake is a great place to run trails if you like or want flat running. Some trails can be a bit muddy (which is great) - there's a lot more at Elk Lake than the 10K loop trail. This run is about 11km for an hour to an hour 10 minutes of running.

2011 Trail Running - Thetis Lake

As we start to think of doing some trail runs between marathon clinics at the end of May, I'm retroactively posting trail runs from the past year. This is a fun rough trail run in Thetis Park. It is a one hour run following the Gunner Shaw route for the most part and includes two swamps to wade through (in winter).