Stories from Haida Gwaii

Leslie's run

Just wanted to pass along an article I wrote about running the T2T for my running club newsletter. The article is on page 6. Thanks again for a great race. We had a lot of fun.

Leslie

http://www.interurbanrunners.net/pdf/August2010.pdf

 

2009 Race Report

The Totem to Totem is a nature run. Unlike the various city runs which are often through the concrete jungles of high rise towers, the Totem to Totem is a run along the shores of the Haida Gwaii.

It is a run where the eagles fly overhead watching carefully. The ravens cheer and discuss the runners in the trees like T.V. commentators. The deer watch from the sidelines, sometimes hidden, sometimes not. You may see one run across like a fan at the Tour de France.

Arriving at the start line to open the site for the runners this year, the first two volunteers watched two deer eating breakfast around the Starting Line. As the deer moved off the volunteers and the runners arrived.

This year saw the greatest number of Haida runners yet. We saw Thon Morrison from Alaska, the oldest Haida runner ever register. At 63 he finished easily and in great form. He clearly challenged all Haidas to run the full marathon, for if he could finish they could train and run it too.

Thon's 11 year old son, Taan was the youngest runner we have seen do the half marathon. He finished on the leader board.

Then there was Michelle Bellis, known as Amber to the community. She ran her first marathon and made the leader board too. We even had a group from Old Massett Village called the “Green Team”. Their act of running 10 km spoke volumes about what the Haida could do. They have pledged to come back to run again next year and do better. Maybe we will see a Skidegate team next year.

This year we had rain the day before and overnight. In the morning the weather was cool with overcast skies, just perfect for running. It didn’t take long to clear up and become sunny and warm by the time the first marathoner came in. All runners loved the run. We had everyone who started finish without fault.

We had the Derailleurs in the Mist, the local bike riding group from Queen Charlotte City join us this year, on their bikes, for safety and support on the run. The volunteers were great again this year, specially the Yovanovich sisters. Hawaa (Thank you) to them all.

People were so very excited to be a part of this new and evolving tradition that there were many comments about coming back next year. More than one runner said that they would be moving up to the next level next year.

The Council is eager to get started planning for next year and the Volunteers are enthusiastic to get things done early too. July 17, 2010 is the date set for next year’s run.

This year, more would have liked to paddle the Great Bill Reid Haida war canoe but the tide was high early, a requirement for the canoe races, so the canoe races started at 11:30 am.

Next year, however, the tide is not high until later in the day so we will have time to finish the run, rest a bit and then join the canoe races before dinner. We look forward to seeing more runners come and Run Haida Gwaii 2010.