EJ Trainer Mark Wickstead – A report on the “Dirty Duo” North Shore Trail Race

Last Saturday March 7^th, I had to leave Rob Tubajon and Junior Mulingtapang all to their lonely selves in coaching the EJ Half Marathon Group.  In my capacity as technical and training representative for Polar Heart Rate Monitors, my attendance was required at the Dirty Duo trail running and bike race in North Vancouver. 

My brother lives on the North Shore so I’m not unfamiliar with the area.  Just to be safe, I went to Map Quest for directions.  I needed to be at the race start for 7AM.  I didn’t want to be messing about in strange parts of the North Shore first thing Saturday morning.  There is a Lilloet Avenue in East Vancouver – that’s where I was 15 minutes before the race start, not at the Lilloet Avenue in North Vancouver.  I decided to ignore Map Quest.  In any case, I could see the North Shore and the bridge that I needed to go over.  I arrived 10 minutes later. 

The Dirty Duo full event is a 25K Trail Run followed by a 30K Mountain Bike Ride.  Participants had the option of doing the full event by themselves or with a partner.  There were also additional options of Trail Running 15K or 50K.  I decided on the spot to take the shortest available option and signed up for the 15K.  It was 7AM.  My event, it turned out started at 1PM.

The active people on the North Shore are not like the rest of us.  I see them every now and then when they come into my neighborhood to run the 1^st Half Marathon, the Shaughnessy 8K or the Sun Run.  They’ve never revealed themselves to me as an identifiable sub culture until now.  At 7AM on a Saturday morning I was surrounded by happy people wearing black socks, and strange backpacks.  I noticed that many of them had dogs and that most of the vehicles were clean and had roof racks.

I had a bit of time to kill.  I went to an Aid Station where I could watch the runners in the 50K.  I checked out the race goodies.  They had Coke, chips, cookies and candies on offer.  I’ve never ran 50K and I’m not going to, so I’m in no position to discuss what seems to me to be strange eating habits. I had delicious coffee.

The race itself was unusual.  They said “Go!”   Instead of sprinting off the start line (like we do in the city), everyone cantered forward.  I was new to this so I joined in.  After a few minutes I’d had enough and bravely took the lead.  Within minutes, I’d led everyone off course.  Chastened, I joined a nice fellow named Tim.  Tim was from Jasper and he had black socks on.  He seemed to know what he was doing.  This was important because I had no sense of direction and my depth perception had disappeared.  I thought about quitting.  I couldn’t tell where and when my feet would hit the ground.  I stayed with Tim for most of the race.  I passed him when I could see the finish line and I bought him a beer later.

The majority of the running races that I do take place in Downtown or Westside Vancouver.  Within 1 hour of completing these events I am usually joining friends for breakfast, checking out the shops or home sleeping.  On the North Shore people arrive at 6AM and stay `til 5PM.  The post race hanging out is top fun.  It was excellent swanning about in my grubby race gear in a scruffy hall, moving about, making friends, having a beer.  I don’t know if I’ll participate in another North Shore trail race, I’m worried about my vision.  But, I’d love to go up for the day, volunteer and hang out for the post race fun.

By Mark (Sparky) Wickstead

Endorphin Junkies Personal Trainer