WEST VANCOUVER resi- dent David Brown says there is nothing particularly glitzy about ultra trail runn- ing. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter So why has the 48-year-old taken part in all three gruelling Knee Knackering ‘::"h Shore Trail Runs? “I would say i's like the ‘peak-bagging’ mentality that you have in mountaineering: you see something and you go for it, regardless of cost,"’ said Brown. Brown is getting ready for this year’s Knee Knacker to be held on July 1. The run follows a 30-mile course from Horseshoe Bay along the Baden-Powell Trail to Deep Cove. Runners will have gone up 8,000 feet in ejevation and de- scended 8,300 feet by the end of the race, which has a 10-hour cut-off time. Race director Shane Collins limits the participants to 100, and he has turned away 50 people so far who wanted to take part in this year’s race. “Part of the season is that we don’t want it to be a typical run where you get as many (runners) as you can,”’ said Collins. ‘““We want every runner to Wednesday, June 17, 1992 - North Shore News — The ultra test This year’s 30-mile Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run set for July 11 NEWS S photo Mike Wakefletd ULTRA TRAIL runners Shane Collins, David Brown and Murray Carpenter are three of 100 people who are going to take part in the gruelling Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run that takes place July 11. The run follows a 30-mile course from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. know each other and develop a sense of shared experience, which I think ultra running is all! about,’ said Collins. Ultra running is defined as any- thing longer than a marathon (26 miles plus). Brown says the activity is a cross between hiking and running a marathon. He says it’s difficult to watch an ultra trail race, which limits its public appeal compared with other endurance competitions like the Ironman. Brown’s recorded his best time in the Knee Knacker in its second year when he finished 17th overall 17 with a time of six hours and 52 minutes, Last year’s winner finished in four hours and 45 minutes. “The younger runners have quicker times, but ultra runners tend to be older. Older runners have endurance,” said Brown. He noted ultra running tends to at- tract the ‘‘masters crowd.”” Collins said finishers of this year’s Knee Knackering Run will get customized western belt buckles, which is a_ traditional prize in keeping with ultra trail running history. Ultra trai! racing started in the U.S. and was originally a horse- riding event. Collins said someone once showed up in runners and_ beat most of the horses to the finish. Belt buckles were awarded as prizes in the equestrian race, and the tradition carried on into ultra trail racing. Brown said people who are not familiar with ultra running relate it to marathons where runners don’t eat and tend not to drink enough. He said ultra runners take breaks, eat and drink in a more social atmosphere than other types of runs. In preparation. for the Knee Knacker, Brown said he tries to run four hours each week on trails. “But the first time I ran it, Shane told me about it on Thurs- day, and [ ran it on Sunday,” said Brown. Skating champion Magnussen frozen out of rec programs Karen Magnussen skating proposal turned down IS THIS any way to treat a world champion? By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter Karen Magnussen is good enough to have a street named after her. She is good enough to have a local skating rink, wave pool and an entire recCentre complex named after her, but she has to pay to get into the facilities named after her. She has never teceived one free.admission. But that isn’t what really bothers the North Vancouver born and raised world ice-skating champion. It’s when she is told she can’t get one minute of ice time at local recreation centres to teach youngsters how to skate. “I thought with my expertise and knowledge of skating, 1 would be welcomed with open arms,’* said Magnussen. She added that she was ‘“‘startl- ed”? by the North Vancouver Rec- reation Commission’s (NVRC) negative response to her skating program proposals, “*It was sort of like a slap in the face ... | don’t want this to sound like sour grapes, because I am a fighter and I keep on going,’’ said the 40-year-old North Vancouver resident. After returning from Boston with her family four years ago, Magnussen thought the locai rec- reation commission would be open to her establishing a skating pro- gram with a new approach. Her grass-roots program for youngsters would be based on the unique knowledge she had gained through becoming the world fig- ure-skating champion in 1973. Magnussen approached the rec- reation commission twice — once when she had just returned from Boston and again last year. She was turned down on both occasions, NVRC director Gary Young said he was aware Magnussen had approached his staff, but he had not talked to her personally. “Karen has come along with a new program, and, frankly, it looks very good. The question is what would you take out to put that in?’ said Young. He said all recreation commis- sion programs are at or near ca- pacity, with ice users asking for more time than what is available. Ice users include minor heckey teams, North Vancouver Skating Club figure skaters and the gener- al public during public-skating sessions, Said Magnussen, ‘‘! have so much to offer.... [ am not only 2 world champion who wants to teach, I have the technical background to justify what I’m doing. I love kids, and I love working with them.” Magnussen’s skating program is See Magnussen page 18 SPORTS “GUARANTEED SERVICE” Active Sportswear SHORTS & T's available at " TIME OUT _ SPORTS LYNN VALLEY CENTRE 1199 LYNN VALLEY RD 980-9211