By Andrew Smith
On Saturday, February 18 a group of local ultra runners set off on a challenging 72k trail loop from Thetis Lake up the Malahat and across the Mill Bay Ferry and back to Thetis Lake. Known as “The Ferry Run,” the event is not a race but a challenge along trails and paths with plenty of vertical and lots of distance! At STARR, we love to run trails as well as roads and the group included three club members: Greg Balchin, Pauline Nielsen and Sarah McWhirter. Here is Greg’s description of the event:
“We got lucky with the weather. It was overcast and a little misty. Perfect for a long climb from the Thetis Lake parking lot to the top of the Malahat. Sixteen runners, mostly from the Fat Ass club, and a few STARRs sprinkled in for good measure, took off Saturday morning at 8 am. The pace was steady, not fast; these were experienced ultra-runners, they knew how to conserve energy. The route was over 70kms and a climb of more than 2,200 meters. This was a fun run, not a race. We were going for distance over terrain that ranged from rough technical logging roads to wide open fine gravel paths. We were shooting for the 3 o’clock Mill Bay ferry but arrived early enough to catch the 2 pm one. That was a nice ride, and an opportunity to eat lunch. Our volunteers kindly set up a food and water stop at the top of the Malahat, met us at the Mill Bay ferry, the Munn Rd parking lot, and finally back at the Thetis Lake parking lot. They provided water, different drinks, fruit, and as a bonus, a hot cuppa tea at the Munns Rd parking lot!! That, for sure, helped me finish the run! They also provided rides for those runners who only wanted to run part of the course. Thanks to their efforts, our journey was far more comfortable. Most of the runners were carrying 8-10lbs of water, snacks, raincoats etc., in their hydration vests. We arrived at the Thetis parking lot in the dark. The last hour we ran with our headlights on. Those beams of light throw strange shadows on the trail, making tripping hazards trickier to navigate. I like it though, it makes you so focused on your breathing, and your next step, that you forget how far you have run, and how far you have left to run”
Sounds like an epic adventure Greg! Thanks for sending your account and photos so the rest of us can share the experience vicariously. Kudos to our three participants for representing STARR and congratulations to all who took part!
