November/December Buzz: Outdoors News Shorts
BMO Vancouver Marathon
Photo at right: The start of the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Photo by Flynn Marr
The original 1972 “British Columbia Marathon” course went around Stanley Park five times. There were only 46 entrants. Today, the BMO Vancouver Marathon is considered one of the world’s best destination marathons and at nearly 15,000 runners (5,000 in the full, 10,000 in the half) it’s Canada’s largest. The full and half marathon courses are separate, and go through many unique urban sites and classic neighborhoods. Last year, they sold out by early spring.
There are many beautiful Northwest marathons, but not many can live up to the tagline, “A marathon so beautiful you’ll wish it was longer.” It’s no wonder it was voted one of the Top 10 Marathons Worth Traveling For by Forbes.com.
Registration is open for the May 5, 2013 race. New for next year: there will be 200 VIP race registrations available, giving the runner a special start line, the all-important tent with toilets, water and warm up mats, a gear check truck and a special finish line tent.
You still have to run it yourself though.
Stanley Anniversary
Next year Stanley is turning 100 years old. Yes, the folks who created the iconic steel vacuum insulated bottle in 1913 are celebrating a century of keeping beverages hot. In November they are marking the occasion by releasing the 100th Anniversary Commemorative Vacuum Bottles (1.1 qt and 1.4 qt). Even better, they’ve set up a place on their website where folks can share stories about their own Stanley bottles. www.stanley-pmi.com/stories. As anyone who has been outside in the cold for a long time knows, you can form a deep relationship with your insulated bottle. Available at REI and online at www.stanley-pmi.com. Retail Price: $38 and $42
Kitsap Forest and Bay Coalition
The Kitsap Forest and Bay Project (KFBC) is the effort by a large coalition to conserve nearly 7,000 acres of forest and 1.8 miles of shoreline on the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington’s Puget Sound, stretching from Port Gamble to Kingston.
The landowner, Pope Resources – a timber company – wants to move out of this urbanizing region at the tip of Hood Canal. Recognizing the value of their lands for public recreation, wildlife habitat and cultural sustenance, the company has given the community an incredible opportunity to determine the land’s future.
However, the community’s option to purchase the land expires in March 2013, with a possible extension to March 2014. The project got some good news this fall when a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest program put Kitsap County closer to its goal of expanding the North Kitsap Heritage Park by 380 acres.
There have been no grant sources identified for 70-80 percent of the 7,000 acres, including the majority of the Pope Resources land with trails that are used by the community. To get involved with this project, go to:
Book Review: Running for Women
By Jason R. Karp, Ph.D.
and Carolyn S. Smith, M.D.
Let’s face it, men and women have some different mechanics. Women runners need to build their training routines, keeping in mind their gender-specific cardiovascular, hormonal, metabolic, muscular, and anatomical characteristics. Running for Women is a comprehensive guide for the serious runner. It may change how you fuel, train and compete.
K2 50th Anniversary Recoil Comp
You do a double take when you see these skis. They’re the spittin’ image of the iconic red, white and blue K2 Comp that rocketed K2 to fame in the 70s. Chances are there’s a pair of them in your parents’ garage. The 50th Anniversary edition has a bi-directional taper, twin tech sidewalls and all-terrain base rocker that make these a versatile all-mountain ski for all abilities. It’s just one way K2 is celebrating its 50th year. Check out their website for more fun stuff like a photo contest where you can win for sending in a picture of your parents with their old K2 gear. Retail price: $550.
Geocaching launches in Oregon
Oregon has its first geocaching GeoTour! Travel Lane County, in partnership with Geocaching.com, has just launched Oregon’s first GeoTour. The Eugene, Cascades and Coast GeoTour—McKenzie River Edition—takes travelers on a geocaching journey along the beautiful McKenzie River.
The McKenzie River GeoTour is only the 10th official Geocaching.com tour in the world and the only one on the west coast. Here’s how it works: Geocachers download a passport from the website. Then they grab their GPS units and/or smartphones and hit the road. GPS units guide geocachers to more than 30 naturally stunning and historic hotspots on the west slope of the Cascades. Find a cache, look for the password and enter it on the passport.
The tour, which covers 60 miles of the river, requires at least two days to complete. The sites are still top-secret, but we have it on good authority there are some gems of hidden spots that locals haven’t even heard of.
A second trail should go live in the spring. That one will take geocachers from Eugene to Florence on the Oregon Coast and include a different coin as reward.
Get searching!
www.eugenecascadescoast.org/geocaching/
Owner Phil Kochik, son Oliver and Louie the trail pug. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.
Seven Hills Running Shop
Owner Phil Kochik, son Oliver and Louie the trail pug. Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.
There’s a new running shoe store in Seattle—the aptly-named Seven Hills Running Shop. Owner Phil Kochik has been working in the running retail industry since 2002, and opening his own store was a natural move.
“I love shoes, I love trail running, I love the hills of Seattle. I hope I can bring my passion for these three things to more people by opening my own store here in Magnolia near Discovery Park,” he said. “I carry road and trail shoes, but primarily focus on trail running shoes from brands like Montrail, Pearl Izumi, Salomon, La Sportiva, Scott and Inov-8.”
Seven Hills Running Shop, 3139 W. Government Way, Suite B, Seattle. (206) 941-5866 www.facebook.com/pages/Seven-Hills-Running-Shop/
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