Lean, mean trail-running machines. Make sure you scroll all of the way to the bottom to see all of the photos.
Last Saturday’s “Gunner Shaw” is an annual 10K cross country trail race around Thetis Lake in memory of Bruce “Gunner” Shaw, a much loved local running figure who passed away at age 39 as the result of a car accident. Gunner Shaw was a founding member of Victoria’s largest running club, the Prairie Inn Harriers, and the 10K trail race in his memory has become one of the fall’s most popular events. The annual event is hosted by volunteers from the Harriers running club, with proceeds going to local charities. The course is a challenging cross country circuit of Thetis Lake’s secondary trails incorporating plenty of hills and water hazards including a wet dash to the finish! Great fun…as the race guide says, “Bring trail shoes and expect plenty of mud!”
Eight STARR runners made the short trek to Thetis Lake on Saturday, filling out the field of 216 competitors, in comfortable temperatures and every weather condition from sun to brief showers…. perfect conditions for a trail race! This is a course that gets your heart rate up, beginning at the Thetis Lake beach start line with several steep “kickers” to spread out the pack. The route follows the rolling shoreline before meandering off onto secondary trails (more steep hills!) and the first water hazard. Before the start, Jackie warned first-timers about the water hazard and we found out what she meant at the second hazard; wading knee deep down a stream bed. The water was freezing, and feet were soon numb. Speedy trail runner Pauline hit the water so fast she ended up submerged in the creek! Go Pauline! The final leg of the course returns along the lake shore and incorporates the three steep climbs familiar to all Thetis Lake Relay participants. A unique feature of this event is the water finish. More than one runner stopped running until course marshals explained the finish line is “the other side” of the beach after running through the water. Spectators seemed to really enjoy watching the wet sprint to the finish!
Our eight runners agreed this is a unique and fun race that brings out the best in the running community. Kudos to the Harriers club for staging such a well-run event. All the more rewarding because proceeds go to charity. If you have the urge to try a local cross country trail running event and you don’t mind getting a bit wet this event is for you. (It isn’t much harder than Jackie’s “let’s explore” routes ).
Pauline had another great result, swimming her way to second in her division and Jackie had a great race finishing third in her division. Everyone else had strong runs and made STARR proud.
Below photos courtesy of Joseph Camilleri, Prairie Inn Harriers