Here is one for next year!
Some of you might remember the "city boys" tackling the 180km Sunshine Coast Trail back in 2003 (the trail won) and again in 2004. I heard all the tales, saw all the photos, film trailers and met some of the Powell River crew. I have, however, not been beyond the second ferry on the Sunshine Coast in years.
This past weekend our family schedule allowed us a trip to Powell River for the annual Marathon Shuffle on a 29km stretch of the Sunshine Coast Trail (SCT). The weather forecast looked glum with 70% chance of rain for Friday, our travel day and Saturday. I was still fighting a lingering cold virus and felt pressured not to miss another run. Details of the Shuffle were sketchy. Was it 24km, 30km or even a full marathon as the name might suggest? With all these questions in my mind and wobbly knees from the cold, I decided not to run and just take in the atmosphere with my children.
The trip north west was magnificent. A short drive brought us to Horseshoe Bay and the ferry to Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. On windy roads, often overlooking Georgia Straight and Vancouver Island in the distance, we made our way to the second ferry in Earls Cove and then on to Eagle's house north of Powell River.
Eagle takes credit for conceiving the Sunshine Coast Trail, to connect existing trails, stands of old growth forest and to raise awareness to the threat logging poses to this amazing landscape. Eagle and his wife Laura very kindly invited us to stay at their house for the weekend. The room were we camped out was facing the ocean and had windows on three sides. I instantly felt like being on holidays and listening to the trail stories I started to consider to hike the Half-Shuffle with my children. Luckily, they were on board, exited by the prospect of being first Half Shufflers and arriving before the rest of the field (more on that later).
Thanks to Laura and Eagle we sorted out the logistics of getting to the finish to carpool, then back to the start of the Half Shuffle somewhere in the boonies up a rough forest road for the kids and myself and getting to the start for Ean.
Equipped with a guide book, food to feed an army, water, spare clothes, camera and lots ot energy (the kids) we set out on a mossy, single track trail through old and second growth forest. We were immediately mesmerized and I forgot about the worried comments and looks from other runners that realized I planned to set out by myself with two kids in tow. The path was well marked and the book's descriptions matched every turn. Frankly, there were no chances to go wrong, as we were on the only trail in the middle of a dense forest. Soon we passed Elphin Falls and Troll Bridge and I felt like Frodo during his journeys in Middle Earth. The trail meandered gaining and loosing minimal altitude. The kids were happily running ahead, respecting my rules about staying in sight and earshot. They didn't fight. I felt like wonder mom, alone in the wilderness. Approaching a Theyeth Lake we were greeted by a frog concert. We were awestruck and crouched above the water on rocks covered with thick, spongy moss to listen to the strange music. Funny enough, as soon as we moved away from the water, the croaking stopped.
Past Kayach Bluffs with beautiful views of Sliammon Lake, Kokanee Creek, Dogleg Pond and Little Sliammon Lake we venture along. My son is getting tired, or rather he claims his heel hurts. We stop for a massage and some food. We are about half way and our speed slowed down considerably. This could take a while. I started to get concerned when we didn't see trail markings for a while. We traced our steps back to an abondoned shelter and looked for any missed turns. Nothing. We continue on the unmarked trails and double check landmarks in the guide book. Looks alright.
Eventually we hit a system of forest roads, but the promised aidstation was not set up yet. Good that I carried all our supplies. All of a sudden, Erik's enery returned. A woman hikes past us, as I made a pitstop...wouldn't you know it. We didn't see a soul for 2 hours. The kids get all excited. Their goal was to be first at the finish line. They race ahead and question the hiker. Yes, she is doing the full Shuffle. I am confused. Why is a hiker first. Where is Ean and his new buddy Dennis. Did Ean's knee buckle? No time to ponder this one, though. The children are bouncing ahead, determined not to let the hiker or any one else pass again. "Come on, mom!" Now, keep in mind that I was carrying this obscenely heavy knapsack, didn't wear my runners or a running bra and was cooking in my long pants. To add insult to injury the terrain all of a sudden changed and I found myself scrambling up a never ending mountain. Scott Mountain, as I read afterwords in Eagle's book. I panicked, as the children got further and further ahead of me, disregarding my pleas to slow down. Apparently, the hiker had told them that they could continue with her...which would have been fine with me if I had known. Eventually, my frantic screaming made them stop and wait, very upset about loosing the first place. It turned out the the lady had set out early then the rest of the runners/hikes, so technically the kids still were first.
I had calculated, that we would finish around the same time than the first finishers of the Full Shuffle. Sure enough, we had just started the descent from Scout Mountain into Shingle Mills, when I heard Ean whooping and hollering behind us. I told the kids to go for it and they flew down the open trail. The sun was out, the air was scented from the dry grass and pine needles and life was good. Not letting anyone finishing in front of them included their daddy ;-) I was amazed to see my son and daughter fly up the last hill and off to the finish line. Ean and Dennis hardly could keep up. To their credit I have to say that they stopped 100m short of the finish to wait for me. My legs were shaking from the lingering cold and the blistering speed those guys put forward during the last 5km. Nobody offered to take the knapsack, though.
I have to admit that in the 15 years I have been living and running in Vancouver I had never ventured to Burnaby Mountain. Fortunately, I tested the course descriptions a few weeks before the Burnaby Mountain Run and can vouch that the views are spectacular. Unfortunately, on the morning of the events, the clouds hung very low and none of the participants were treated to the breathtaking scenery.