Portsalon Beach
By Leslie Ann Bent
This has been such a motivating event for our 19 STARR participants. With five teams taking on the challenge, four teams have finished the January Blues and one team is 99% complete. What an amazing feat. With 3 more days to go, together we’ve done almost 3,500km! I’m expecting all teams will be finished by tomorrow. So, pat yourselves on the back and give a rah, rah to your teammates. The draws for race entries to the Run Sayshutsun and CFB Esquimalt Runs will take place at the February monthly STARR meeting.
Giant’s Causeway Challenge, Coastal Ireland
This was a great week for both teams.
As each member of Into the Mystic sent in their weekly mileage, it looked like the team was going to be 1km shy of their destination. However, Bri must have been out gathering the celebratory drinks and treats. She brought the team to finish line with a few minutes to spare – carrying treats! The finish line prizes for the team include treat bags with Irish breakfast tea & Emerald Isle treats for Kari, Justin, and Donna and a bag of Bailey’s Irish Cream chocolates for Bri herself. Meanwhile, Maggie decided to explore the nearby Fanad Lighthouse and her finish line prize was a book. The team is hanging out on the beautiful sandy, crescent beach, named the second most beautiful beach in the world by the Observer newspaper. Not a bad place to end.
The Causeway Coasters meanwhile continued along the northerly rugged coast passing by many scenic and dramatic landscapes. Leslie Ann and Ken stopped at Crohy Head for some photo opportunities. Its sea arch is one of the many hidden gems dotting this spectacular coastline. Joldine and Sue spotted Nanda’s Home Cooking coffee shop in Lettermacaward. They sampled Irish breakfast tea and Irish cream (chocolates) and will bring some home as souvenirs. Leslie Ann and Ken will be surprised to see what treats await them back in Otter Point and Shirley when the team reaches home soil. For now, they will spend the night in this small village overlooking the coast. Sue’s GPS system was failing - no signal I guess in this remote spot. Once she’s reconnected, we’ll get her mileage for the week.
The Gold Rush Challenge (724km) + add-on coastal route to Ballysadare = 717km
Lots of excitement has happened in the Yukon this past week. Klondicitis easily made it to Dawson City. Did you know that Dawson City is Yukon’s second largest municipality and has only 1,375 residents? In 2023, it became part of a UNESCO world heritage site. In its heyday during the gold rush, it was a city of mud streets, casinos, churches, saloons, and theaters. Today, the local CIBC still weighs and handles gold. Gerites (Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall) is still open for business and that’s where each of our teams have rested and celebrated their Gold Rush Trail completion. Sarah and Dave found some gold nuggets to take home (gold wrapped chocolates). Paul will be taking home some True North Coffee. After resting, they are helping clear the course for the Yukon Arctic Ultra along with Boone’s Crew. They’ve made their way past the Braeburn check point and part way to the Mandanna Lake check point.
Boone’s Crew has had a phenomenal week as well. The ultra race has a number of check points where participants in the race can rest, have something to eat, and treat frost bite. Last week the Boone’s Crew was near the Dog Lake check point. This week they passed several of the checkpoints. Their last check point of the week was McCabe, an area known for fishing when it’s not in the dead of winter. Perhaps this spot is of interest to Danny? Heavily energized by treats from week 3, the team made great progress and are resting about 25 miles from Pelly’s Crossing. Hot drinks for Danny, Jackie and Robin, while Jill is curled up with a book (The Complete Book of Running for Women).
You may be wondering what’s happened with the Gold Diggers. They were last seen 231km from the finish line. Plagued early on by sickness and weather, this team earned the determination badge this week. Making their way through Summit Roadhouse, Gravel Lake, and the gold fields of Flat Creek and Rock Creek, they can now see Dawson City about 7 or 8km in the distance. They stopped for one last night. Marika and Ian did not find gold at Rock Creek but instead found some interesting books. (House Calls by Dogsled: Six Years in an Arctic Medical Outpost for Ian and At the Mountain’s Edge - an historical fiction novel about the Yukon Gold Rush for Marika). Andy is enjoying a hot drink before tomorrow’s push to the finish line.
RESULTS WEEK 3
Giant’s Causeway (Goal 500km); add-on to Ballysadare (+217k) = 717km
Causeway Coasters – Ken (42km), Joldine (25.5km), Leslie Ann (32km), Sue (lost cell service!!) = cumulative 608km (complete), Lettermacaward, Ireland
Into the Mystic – Maggie (28km), Justin (16.5km), Donna H (22km), Kari (47.9km), Bri (26km) = 525km (100% Complete) Portsalon Beach!
Gold Rush (Goal 724km) add-on Yukon Arctic Ultra (+483km) = 1,207km
Boone’s Crew – This week’s mileage - Danny (88km), Jackie (54.85km), Robin (87km), Jill (53.71km) – Cumulative 1,094km (Gold Rush complete, Montaine Arctic Ultra about 76%)
Klondicitis – Sarah (106km), David D (67.2km), Paul (39.37km) – cumulative 917km (Gold Rush complete, Montaine Artic Ultra 40% complete, about 25 miles from the Mandanna check point)
The Gold Diggers – Andy (59.5km), Ian (71km), Marika (92.75km) – 716.2km (99% complete, on the outskirts of Dawson City)