August 13, 2022
By Leslie Ann Bent
Mt. Washington hosted the Vancouver Island Trail Race Series’ 5th race of the season. This past weekend, three of our STARR trail racers were out to take on the 14km long course including 820 meters of vertical climbs. The race website boasts running above the treeline, spectacular views of the Comox Valley and Strathcona Park, and lots of fun single track. There is also an 8km short course for those wanting something a little less challenging. Over 300 runners participated in this year’s races.
Here is what Greg had to say about the race:
“ Over 700 metres of climbing. 500 straight up the ski lift, then a fast run down then back up a 50° incline 300 metres, before winding down a road that should have been a fast flat out run. But it was loose heavy rock. Very difficult.
“Yes ,I did manage to go off track on the downhill portion. I missed a turnoff on the logging road, Fortunately, a guy I had passed 5 minutes before, yelled at me as I was disappearing around a corner, and I had to run back uphill again!
“Most of my friends were 5 to 30 minutes ahead of me. Marika killed me, coming in 10 min ahead. Pauline pushed ahead of me three times on the uphills. She was literally pushing me up the last 50 feet of the second hill. I came in 1 minute ahead of her in the end. Couldn't open up on the downhills, my knee was too sore.
“We were lucky, the weather was cool, and actually spritzed a little rain on us towards the end of the race. I doubt we could have run it at all had next weeks 34'c forecast had been race day. There was zero tree cover. It would have been brutal.”
STARR results
Marika Nagasaka (F40-49), 2nd 1:51:27
Greg Balchin (M60-69), 3rd 2:00:57
Pauline Nielsen (F50-59) 2:01:57
Congratulations to all of our runners.
