13 - Wednesday, May 16, 1990 - North Shore News Explore investment options PAGE 29 Ultra trail running not for wimps NEW CLUB FORMED FOR ATHLETES BORED WITH TRIATHLONS REAL RUNNERS don’t eat rice cakes. By ELIZABETH COLLINGS News Reporter Nor do they strain their cot- lage cheese, as one diet-conscious world class triathlete has been known to do. But real runners? ‘We might Strain to open up an extra pint of beer,” quips ultra trail runner Shane Collins. Joking aside, Collins and a growing number of triathletes and marathoners are defecting from the high tech, gloss, and money stakes of triathlons to the purest of ultra distance sports, ultra trail running. Collins, an enthusiastic booster of the sport and charter member of the North Shore Ultra Trail Runners Society (N.U.T.S.). says that as marathons and triathlons increasingly became commercial through the '70s and ‘80s, some athletes sought a new and more personal adventure. “They've found that both those sports they’ve maxed out in," says Collins, who has com- peted in more than 40 triathIons, including the Penticton and Ha- waiian Jronmans. “People are looking for some- thing other than the marathon and trail running satisfies that because of the challenge and because of the aesthetic beauty. Trail running is proving to be a sport that challenges the most competitive athlete because of the length. “The people are not into high tech. They're not there for the show, There’s a tot more emotion between the trail runner and his course than there is with the road runner,’’ Collins says. In fact, the only gear a trail runner needs is a sturdy pair of running shoes and a fanny pack to carry water and food over long distances, And the distances are indeed long. Imagine cunning the equivatent of four back-to-back marathons under a 30-hour time limit, then throw in uneven rer- rain and elevation changes in the thousands of feet renge to get an idea what trail runners are up ugainst. Collins concedes that ihe 100-milers (he did his first Lead- ville 100 Jast August) are, at times, painful, but says it’s the ultimate challenge for runners to NEWS photo Stuart Davis N.U.T.S. ABOUT trail running (pictured from teft) are Shane Collins, Murray Carpenter and Enzo Federico, The members of the newly-formed North Shore Ultra Tyail Runners Society frequently cun for hours through the North Shore mountains, pit themselves against nature. “In the more remote runs one has to be as self-sufficient as much as possible in carrying water supplies, food, rain gear and basic first aid equipment. You can imagine that if you're tunning in Montana up in the mountains, if you're not prepared for it, you will die,” he says. In fact, trail running achieve- ments are rated more by comple- tion of the course than time. For instance, the finish rate of the Leadville 100 is 45 per cent whereas 92 to 93 per cent of triathletes complete the Hawaii Ironman, Collins says the drop out raie is hign because the races are $0 fong and unpredictable that it's almost inevitable that something will go wrong. But those statistics also tend to have a levelling effect among the athletes, he says. “The winner has no more right to be treated differently than the last person to finish and they will not be treated differently."* Of course, attempting a 100- miler is) not something one decides overnight. Collins ran 80 miles (10 to E4 hours) and swam 12,000 (four to six hours) a week as he geared up for the Leadville. For heginners, Collins suggests hiking on the focal trails with a slow jog mixed in on the Mat sur- faces to build up fez strength and aerobic cupacity before atrempt- ing a flat-out trail run. More advanced trail runners will find running mates in N.U.T.S., the very “low key” North Shore trai} running club which Collins says will be setting tuns ranging from one to nine hours. This year, Collins and N.U.T.S. colleague Enzo Federico are officially intraduc- ing trail cunning to the North Shore with the second annual Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run, set for July 54 (the first trial run last year was clos- ed). Sponsored by Superstar and IGA, this 30-mile jaunt along the Baden Powell Trail from Horse- shoe Bay to Deep Cove starts at 6 a.m. with a ‘‘generous’’ 1f-hour cut-off time. To date, Collins has 35 confirmed entrants including top 100-miler Martyn Greaves of Engiand, and is expecting to fill the 75 entrant limit. Runners will be served fruit and drink at six aid stations at the main access points along the course which again begs the question: What do real runners eat anyways? Answer: 5,000 calories per day when training, an unforeseen ad- vantage to this otherwise tough sport, For more information on N.U.T.S., the Knee Knackering run, or to volunteer to work at the aid stations, call Collins at 921-5921 or Federico at 988-0694. Hoilyburn tennis team nets national berth HOLLYBURE COU RY Club will be heading to the team former Romanian Davis Cupper Gitbriel Neaseu, Susie tennis nationals after routing Jericho Tennis Club 7-1] in the provincial finals of the Diet Coke/Nutrasweet Club Team Tennis Championships this weekend. Held at the Worth Shore Winter Club, Hollyburn edged Blue Mountain Racquet Club 3-3 on Saturday before Sun- day’s showdown with Jericho. Winning combinations on the Hollyburn) squad include Fought, Pam Hunter, and juniors Scott Moore and Stefano Walker, Robin Jens, and Sandra Weinteld. “To win it, you really have to hase depth in all categories,’ said Hfunter, adding that Jericho's juniors were not strong. ‘'We probably had a more competitive match with Blue Mountain.” Hunter and daughter Fought, holders of the Canadian Remington Family Championship tide, lost one match to pro Theresa Dobson and Gabriela Slezak in three sets. SEE TENNIS MATCH PHOTO, PAGE 15 Hollyburn’s team will represent B.C. at the national t in York University’s National Tennis Centre from July 20.