Discussion: Canadian Running

A new magazine hits the stands this month...

http://www.runningmagazine.ca/

Now we can run (and read) in metric:-).

"Lose 4.5 kg with these great 4.8 km running workouts"

There was an interesting piece recently on NPR (I think) about the counterintuitive recent proliferation of niche publications despite the increasing prevasiveness of the internet and alternative media. The point? Not sure, but what could be more of a niche publication than Canadian Running? This surely must have been the inspiration for the NPR segment :)

Don't push us, Clem. We can start publishing "Prince Edward Island Ultra-Running" at the drop of a hat.

Actually, I think there could be more runners in Vancouver (and lower mainland) than there are orienteers on the planet, if we really want to get on the topic of things that are *niche*.
Percentage-wise, there are a lot of Canadians who have running as a past-time. I think people like to read about athletes from their own country, from time to time. And, there might actually be several thousand people for whom "best places to run in Uculet, BC" is actually interesting and relevant.
Personally, I'd be interested in "best places to run in Flin-Flon, Manitoba or Tuktoyuktuk, NWT".

Hehe...

Actually, while there may not be orienteers in Vancouver, they are pretty hardcore. That sprint training camp they put on looked sweet.

Maybe Vancouver is the new Hamilton?

Blasphemy! Comparing Vancouver to Hamilton in any context...maybe Hamilton-Calgary but not Vancouver.

Yeah, why embarrass Vancouver by pointing out its flaws? Instead we should help it grow and become more like Hamilton. For example, I bet you didn't know that Hamilton, too, has a mountain.

as an unbiased Whse resident who has lived in the Hammer, I have to say the sprint camp in Van was absolutely amazing. While the forest orienteering there is thick and dense the sprint maps are second to none. I believe Magnus said they have 40-50 of them now.
I have posted some pics on my blog
http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/brent

The only problem with Vancouver is that it's full of 'Vancouverites' ;-)

If Vancouver were full of Newfies I'd have never left... too drunk to find my way out ;-)

I think the East Hamilton vs East Hastings nod has to go to Hamilton.... and Hamilton gets primarily treated sewage on it's beaches vs the raw stuff that Victoria sends to Vancouver

Having lived in both cities (actually Victoria too) I'd have to say, CHOOSE MIDHURST ;-).... O.K. North Van, then it's a Whiterock/Midhurst tie...

Yeah, don't knock Vancouver, the sprint camp was awesome. Even for a guy who had to compete on crutches and/or orthopedic boot!

The quantity of sprint maps they have is inspiring for Seattle.

I'll keep going as long they keeping hosting!

So, how do they do it? Who is the force behind this sprint nirvana? Who made the maps, etc?

looked at my husband's maps from the weekend & out of the 4 I found, three are mapped by pi, who as I understand was one of the major organizers as well, along with salal. I was impressed bigtime even tho I don't scamper around w map in hand myself !

If "Canadian Running" is a niche what does that make "Orienteering North America"?

Less of a niche than "Orienteering Canada."

Vancouver sprint camp rocks. Period. (Maps, food, people, not so much weather this year, competition, lactic acid)

Do you realize that even with the not so large number of participants, this is probably the event that have the largest lactic acid amount produced by orienteerers for a three day period. Or at least the potential to become one. (Hey I really sounded like a Guiness World Record category announser !!!)

not so much weather this year

I thought the weather Sunday was as perfect as weather could be. Sunny and clear! And both Sunday events included waterfront sprinting.

(The Saturday weather wasn't bad. Though, Friday evening was rather dreary.)

j-man, they have a good group there who all map. Pi, has been a major mapping force and did a lot of the organizing for the camp. tnipen is doing his PhD at UBC so lives there 8 months a year and does a ton of stuff for the club. Salal, you probably know from the Canadian team and Meghan although not in Van right now has done some mapping and organizing, too.
Right now, there is a Swedish couple there, too (loefaas). Oh yeah, and there is this guy called Ted de St. Croix who has been around for a while.