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Road Runners also race on trails

Club members competing in several gruelling races this season
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SHAUNA CONNAUGHTON RACES the Chuckanut 50K.

Don't be fooled by the name. The Comox Valley Road Runners are also avid trail runners. CVRR has been well represented in a variety of recent races as the trail racing season kicks off.

The first major race of the season was the Dirty Duo in North Vancouver on March 9. The Dirty Duo is a multi-sport event, including biking and/or running over a variety of distances. Kiyoko Marton was the lone CVRR member to participate. She raced the 15K trail running event, finishing an excellent 13th place overall.

This was followed by the Chuckanut 50K on March 16 in Bellingham, Wash. This is a gruelling trail race that includes 5,000 feet of climbing. The race was billed as one of the most competitive 50K races in North America in 2012. Brad Crowe and Marion Bryan both had exceptional races, with Chuckanut being their first race at the 50K distance. They were accompanied by ultra-racing veteran Shauna Connaughton, who also had a a great race.

Next was the Fletcher's Challenge trail race in Nanaimo on March 29, a memorial run for Gavin Fletcher of Nanaimo. It includes a 13K trail race and a 6K family run/walk around Westwood Lake. The Road Runners were lead by Roger Plamondon, followed closely by Patrick Montgomery. Bryan lead the CVRR women, showing her toughness by bouncing back quickly from the 50K race just two weeks earlier. Mary Anne Rolfe, Marton and Leo Rolfe also completed the very difficult course and turned in some great times.

Next on the racing agenda for many of these trail racers is the Gutbuster Trail Running Series. The first race of the series takes place in Victoria on May 12. The series of four races culminates with the Mount Washington race on Aug. 11.

  • Comox Valley Road Runners