Solstice 6!

Greetings all you happy runners! 
It's fall - I missed a lot of the year but am ready to get started on the 
6th annual Winter Solstice Marathon!!!!!!! 
Look at all those exclamation points - it must be a big n! Why yes, yes it is - it's on a Sunday Sunday SUNDAY this year, making it almost like a real event.
So - there was talk of a multiple BUT we simply do not have the volunteer pace to do that - so it's just the one day event Sunday December 21
10 km
 1/2 marathon
Full marathon
 6 km walk or run around the lake

More details to follow soon
Like the exorbitant entry fee (probably $20)
News on bling
And when registration opens - Soon
But first finish your fall marathons - plan to run this one & plan on having fun in the wet (often) beautiful, sometimes cold and slushy, always heart warming, free chili marathon to celebrate winter.
Oh and
Always looking to expand that volunteer base
And - we offer absolutely NO PRIZE MONEY!!!  So everyone is welcome but I can not pay you!

Results - the 5th Annual Westwod Lake Winter Solstice Marathon

Hooray!! We did it! Another successful run Now my computer & blogger are still not friends so this will likely be a mess - but I am going to post the result(ish) of the 5th annual (it will be as one long run on sentence even though it is not typed in that fashion - Thank you to all who came out for this Our wonderful community businesses who donated stuff A Wee Cupcakery Anne Heyes @ The Running Room Gabriel's Cafe Old City Organics & Crystal Hansen for the beautiful SWAG!! & my wonderful volunteers Alan Medcalf (the pancake guy) Neil Gallagher (the chili guy) Beatrix Gallagher (the pizza girl) Dale Luxford Vicki Luxford Sheila Dawe 10 km results Matthew Kusminski 44:58 Drew Kusminski 46:40 Stefan Kusminski 51 Larry Del Misto 1:01 Jan Del Misto 1:13 Stephanie Human 1:13 John Browne & Andrea Biener both ended at the 12 k with 1:25 not Jeralyn Pickering walked in @ 1:12 1/2 marathon results - in no particular order Danna Hadden 2:51 Deon Human 2:23 Jessica Kirby 2:19 Lisa deLusignan 2:29 Ben Marrs 2:29 Kelly Schellenberg 2:29 Colleen van der Heide 2:25 Anne Heyes 2:36 Samantha Dickinson 1:56 Scott Speakman 2:40 Malinta Tait 2:18 Jesse Tait 2:18 Gary Pickering 2:00 Jessica Irving 2:34 Peter Gardner 3:37 Tina Hein 2:19 Belinda Kissach ran 32km in 4:24 Doug Calder ran 22 km in 2:45 Full marathon results - in no particualr order James Griffin 5:13 Suzanne LeBlanc 4:24 Dennis Straussfogel 4:24 Edward Dostaler 4:29 Dylan Olsen 4:55 I apologize for this taking so long to post - bad internet, bad flu thing, all the usual excuses. I thank you all so much for coming out again & making this such a wonderful event - we raised $500.25 for Loaves & Fishes here in Nanaimo plus a trunk load of foods. That's pretty cool, I think. Until next year! Keep on running!

Friday Night Update

So anyways I was walkin around the late today & it was beautiful - like a postcard - big flakes falling - just lovely The roads today we wet, not anything else. As I said in the last post - unless it all changes over night - the race is a go I will be ther around 7-7:15am for early birds. It was, as I said, snowy in parts, not snowy in other parts... you know - it's winter. Decide for yourselves - because - be safe - I don't have far to go to get there Bring warmies Bring that change of clothes Bring good cheer - this is an elective thing - I'm not making you do it - I am not the boss of you. So - let's welcome this very short day with a run of good cheer & there will be chili for those who can make it! SLURP!

SNOW!!

So - as far as I'm concerned - the race is on! We had ice last year & it was a go. I have yet to go up and look around but will be doing so after I take the banana bread out of the oven. My policy last year was if you get there, I will be there - so unless it gets way worse (knock wood) I will be there & come on out if you can. I hear the mains are fine & the sides are being plowed. And Northerners don't laugh - this is a lot for us to deal with! I have received forms from almost everyone on the list - Blogger is flaking out on me - but here's the who's who of number 5!! Full James G - early Belinda K - early Suzanne L Dennis S John E Edward D Doug C - early Dylan O Janet Green 1/2 Catherine M John B - early Andrea B - e Danna H Deon H Johanne J Jessica K Glenn G Lisa d Kim R Ben M Kelly S Colleen v Anne H - e Samantha D Scott S Shawn F Malinta T Jim T Gary P Jeralyn P Jessica I Drew K Stefan K Peter G - e Tina H Suzanne V - ???? 10 km Stephanie H Larry D Jan D Matt K The start finish is at the main entrance of Westwood Lake park - off Jinglepot road & Westwood road - turn left just after the pub & go up up up the hill. The aid station will have water & a sports drink, some chips, pancakes, chili, a few bars & chocolates, whatever cookies people bring to share & a blanket or 2. My phone number is on the back of you bib - so if you can bring a cell, then all the better. I will try to post again with more info about the course but I'm guessing it's snowy in patches, muddy in patches and could be icy, depending on the weather. Use caution!. It will be marked & should be easy to navigate. This is not a Boston Qualifier - so no need for speed out there! Ok - any questions?? Best to contact me directly at beasknee@gmail.com See you Solstice! Angela

Updated 12/11/13

Confirmed Registrants - December 11, 2013

FULL

1.Belinda Kissach

2.James Griffin

3. Dennis Straussfogel

4. Suzanne LeBlanc

5. Edward Dostaler

6. John Edwards

7. Doug Calder

1/2

1.John Browne

2.Catherine Macey

3. Samantha Dickinson

4. Colleen van der Heide

5.Kelly Schellenberg

6. Ben Marrs

7.Kim Rodger

8.Lisa deLusignan

9.Glenn Goodwin

10. Jessica Kirby

11. Deon Human

12. Danna Hadden

13. Johanne Jensen-LeBlanc

14. Anne Heyes 

15. Malinta Tait*

16. Jesse Tait*

17. Gary Pickering*

18. Jeralyn Pickering*

19.Scott Speakman

20. Shawn Fiddick

21.Andrea Biener

10 km-ish

1.Stephanie Human

2. Jan Del Mistro

3. Larry Del Mistro

* AUSTRALIAN!!!

#Awaiting payment

As you can see, the 1/2 is full!  The full still has some spots but the 1/2 is full.  If you are planning on running this - best to let me know as it is approaching pretty darn quick!

 This is the start/ finish line yesterday.  The course was mostly clear - with some areas of packed frost which COULD be slippy but weren't when I ran it.  The lake is frozen on the edges, making an after marathon dip a bit tricky.

All along the course there are kilometer markers.They are permanent and will only mock you as you progress because they mark the distance of 1 lap & well, ha! That's not you.  However they will become a friendly place marker along the way & give you ample time to work on your marathon math skills.
Westwood Lake is a public park and you will be running on a public, open trail.  This trail will be shared with walkers & other runners, dogs, & kids on bikes.  Please be courteous. Leave no garbage behind, make yourself known as you pass, don't startle that older woman out for her morning walk please & respect the beauty of our little lake.  Thank you.  
If you are planning on doing an early start, please let me know.  There is a 7:30 am option, & you are welcome to take it, BUT let me know coz if I don't have to be there at 7:30 am - then cool.  Also - a headlamp is advised for the first lap if you take the 7:30 start time.  Regular.start time 9 am.  Any other questions or concerns?? Email me - beasknee@gmail.com

Please remember canned goods & baked goods are welcome - we eat the baked goods & send the canned goods to the food bank.  They are starting to love us by the way (just saying) And I also seem to remember saying that there was a 20 person cap on the 1/2 & 10 on the full...... I know, I'm not strict BUT - if you want me to extend that cap - talk people into volunteering!!!!!! 

I need - 

People with cell phones willing to take a walk around the lake, just to make sure all is ok.

People who can stir chili & flip pancakes for a while.

People who can count.

All volunteer shifts are as long as you want - well, please, an hour @ least. I offer no t-shirts but you can have a cup of chili & some cookies & a heartfelt thank you in this very famous blog.

Dazed & Confused

Somewhere in the wide wide world of web, my blog, this lil ol marathon has reach some international running cartel.  I have had interest from 4 Australians & 12 Kenyans.  I say - you all should come - BUT - please know these things about the Westwood Lake Winter Solstice Marathon -
1 - There is no marathon committee - well, there is, but it is a committee of me. And really, I seldom refer to myself as "the committee".
2 - There is no prize money.  Any proceeds & all canned goods go to the local food bank.
3 - There are home made medals & home made chili & local made swag & good cheer & donated baking.
4 - This is a small, serve yourself kinda event - one aid station which you pas over & over & over again - that's all.  
Really, did I say it is low key?
Please come, by all means, but if you are serious, then know this is a teeny little thing on a relatively small island in a relatively small town.
Kenyans? Really? Wow.

SIGN UP NOW!!!

Registration IS open!!
Just print up the form below & mail it in to me!
We are excited you are coming!
And if you are 2 Kenyan runners currently in Malaysia, please, yes, come on over!
From Australia? Come on over!

link to the form!!
SIGN UP NOW!!!

2013 Entry Form pdf

link to the form!!

Hope to see you all on the Sosltice!