Mountain Highway Madness - Spring

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Event Registration - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

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Thank you for registering online and in advance.

This is a Club Fat Ass (CFA) event, so we adhere to CFA event management guidelines and privacy policy. Please complete the whole form. Your personal information is needed to make sure I spell your name right in the results and so I can contact you... or your next of kin! The other information helps me to plan any aid or post-event activities. Please help me to host a safer, better event by registering early and by notifying me if you can't make it. I'm constantly looking for ways to improve, so please share your thoughts or questions with me in the Suggestion Box below. After you click on "submit" below, your registration details will be confirmed.

Ean Jackson - Your Club Fat Ass Event Host

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Results

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The Glory

Mountain Highway Madness is held twice a year in the late spring and early fall.  There's no trophy, t-shirt, ball cap or shiny car for the fastest or the last one left standing. Bragging rights are, however, available to those who are prepared to earn them:

Bragging Right

Accomplishment

Platinum 4 or more round trips
Gold 3 round trips
Silver 2 round trips
Bronze 1 round trip
Raspberry an incomplete lap

2009 - Year 8 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness Results

Club Fat Ass Event - Spring Mountain Highway Madness 2009 - Starter Photo

15 March 2009 - Starter Photo
12 Starters

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Or so it felt as we assembled under the Kintec tent at the start of the 8th annual Mountain Highway Madness.  Global warming?  What global warming?  Yes, Mother Nature threw another late-season curve ball and gave us the most snow in the history of this event.  

In summary, the event was a disaster for those hoping to set a course speed record or get in multiple loops.  For those who toed the line in the snow, however, our run turned out to be an unforgettably beautiful group run in the untracked powder. 

The Mountain Highway Madness course takes a summer access dirt road from a residential neighborhood to an old quarry on the side of Fromme Mountain on Vancouver's north shore.  There was a dusting of snow at the start, but as soon as we passed the first of several switchbacks, it was deep enough for me to use my snowshoes.  As we climbed the mountain, the snow got progressively deeper... and deeper... and deeper. 

Rob Ruff did an excellent job of breaking trail through the powdery snow which, near the turnaround, was almost knee-deep.  A reluctant sun peeked from behind the snow-laden pines from time to time.  Apart from our heavy breathing and a weird sound that we later determined was from trees rubbing together, it was totally silent. 

As has been the case in previous years, the runners beat the snowshoer both up to the turnaround and back to the start.  Since most of us ran as a group, we opted to go for a coffee in front of a fireplace rather than run another lap.  As we walked back to our cars, Laddie pointed out that it was 17C for one of the first spring Mountain Highway Madness runs. 

Thanks to Kintec and Trail Runner magazine for the prizes.  It was tougher than normal to award them.  I am pleased to announce that none of the starters of this year's event got lost.  I am also thankful that there were no "purple heart" awards handed out to recognize outstanding injuries incurred during the run.  Thanks to all who made the time to search in the snow for trash to pick up, I had some bonus points to award.  Special mention goes out to the 3 runners who wore shorts and persevered the snow without whining. 

I hope to see you all back in September for the fall version of Mountain Highway Madness so you can compare the experience and your split times with and without snow.

Ean Jackson
Host of the Mountain Highway Madness

 

PS If you participated in the run, please take a moment to fill out the Club's Post Event Survey. You can also leave your comments, impressions from the run and feedback via the comment link below (you need to be signed in for that) or in your CFA blog.

Photos.
  Here are more photos. You can add yours to this slideshow by following these instructions.  Please tag all photos with SpringMHM2009 SpringMHM SpringMountainHighwayMadness and ClubFatAssEvents

Preliminary Results. Please check for missed times/names/distances and forward corrections to the EH via the comment form below or email.


First Name Last Name Event Points Up/Down/total
Rob Ruff 15km - 1 loop 2 1:20/0:40/2:00
Greg Barreca 15km - 1 loop 2 1:21/0:39/2:00
Jessica Glowacki 30km - 2 loops 2 1:21/0:39/2:00 
desmond mott 15km - 1 loop 3* 1:21/0:40/2:01
Chris Atkins 15km - 1 loop 2 1:21/0:44:42/2:05:42)
philip parker 15km - 1 loop 2 1:21/0:46/2:07
Ean Jackson 15km - 1 loop 4** 1:21/0:47/2:08 
Michael Syrjala 30km - 2 loops 2 1:21/0:47/2:08
Helen Tilley 15km - 1 loop 3* 1:21/0:47/2:08
Arthur Gee 15km - 1 loop    1:49/1:06/2:55
         
Laddie Hannam 15km - 1 loop 3* 1:15/0:53/2:08
Craig Moore custom - third switchback 2 0:23/0:19/0:42
Ryne Melcher custom - first switchback 2 0:12
Monty Watts Saturday ? 2 ?
         
Andy Nicol   -1 DNS
Mike Palichuk   -1 DNS

 














































* Garbage Point
** EH Point

2008 - Year 7 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

16 March 2008 - 25 Starters

As the rising sun cast it's warm glow over Fromme Mountain and the final minutes ticked down to the start of the spring running of Mountain Highway Madness, I paused to ponder one of life's great mysteries. This run has been on the 3rd Sunday in March at 7:30 in the morning for seven (7) years. The date and times are on the event website in at least 2 places. "How is it that 7 people didn't get the start time right?!"

No matter. Mountain Highway Madness is a fun Club Fat Ass run where nobody really cares how fast or far you run, so why should they care when you start?

Penny, Melissa and Mike were the first to show up. My understanding is that they were jogging around the start line wondering where everyone was at 7:30 on Saturday morning. The weather was fine and there was excellent company, so the fat ass pathfinders set off a day early. Read their reports on the course here.

At 7:00 on a Sunday morning, the streets of North Vancouver are usually deserted but the last paved section of Mountain Highway was buzzing with trail runners when I arrived. The start area looked like that of a "real" running race, as Danielle from Kintec had set up a tent and a bounteous spread of trail chow.

The starting field was quite diverse. At the one end, Ryne Melcher, Rea and Stephen Blyth, who had completed the Chuckanut 50K run the day before and who aimed to run at least 4 laps (60K) today. At the other end, 2 elementary school runners, a young Japanese language student who had never run in his life and myself, the shadow of a runner complete with torn calf and a couple of broken ribs from a skiing wipeout.

We set off promptly at 7:30. Four registered runners, keeners I knew planned to start, were nowhere to be seen. The pack quickly broke into 3 groups: fast, solid and raspberry (those who were out for less than a full 15K lap.)

The spring Mountain Highway Madness (there's also a fall version held in September) is always a bit of a lottery when it comes to conditions. Over the past 7 years we've experienced sunny, warm days with not a trace of snow. We've had snow on almost the entire course (I did it in snowshoes one year!) and we've had monsoon rains the whole day.

Today, the weather was clear and temperatures fresh. There were patches of snow even at the start. From about the 3rd switchback (3K), however, the snow was deep and crusty. Heavier runners postholed to their knees with every stride and there was precious little of a path to follow. Passing runners whinced at Ran Katzman's bloodied shins. Multi-time Mountain Highway Madness finisher Glen Pace called them, "the toughest conditions ever".

As I made my way back down, the 4 missing runners passed by me. "For some reason I thought the start was at 7:45," said Ron Adams. Graham Archer later came by to see how far he could get on his mountain bike while Rick Arikado showed up 3 hours after the start!

John Machray had a PW (personal worst) a week before his Coyote 2 Moon 100-miler, but claims to have passed a kidney stone. Desmond ran home. Instead of doing her second lap, Laddie went to the coffee shop and brought back some warm java for Danielle and something for the finisher draw securing a bonus point for Club spirit.

Many thanks to Kintec and Danielle for the great aid station and prizes, Laddie for her generosity and Kelly at the Mosquito Creek for the cool pint.  Thanks also to TrailRunner Magazine, who provided two annual TR subsriptions.  They just arrived in the mail - a day to late for the awards - and were given to our out-of-towners Lorie and Barry, as the farthest travelled and longest on the course.

Ean Jackson
Host of the Mountain Highway Madness

PS If you participated in the run (yesterday or today!), please take a moment to fill out the Club's Post Event Survey. You can also leave your comments, impressions from the run and feedback via the comment link below (you need to be signed in for that) or in your CFA blog.

Here are more photos. You can add yours to this slideshow by following these instructions.



Preliminary Results. Please check for missed times/names/distances and forward corrections to the EH via the comment form below or email.

First Name Last Name Home Town Event Points 1st lap: up/down/
total
2nd lap:
up/down/
laptotal/
total
3rd Lap:
up/down/
laptotal/
total
Ellie Greenwood Vancouver 45km 2 0:53/
0:44/
1:37
0:56/0:37/
1:33/
3:11
0:59/0:41/
1:40/
4:51
Glenn Pace North Vancouver 45km 1 ? ? ?/?/?/
5:50
Lorie Alexander Vernon 45km 2 ?/?/2:24 ?/?/2:26 ?/?/2:32/7:22
Barry Hopkins Buena Vista Sask 45km 2 ?/?/2:24 ?/?/2:26 ?/?/2:32/7:22
               
Ran Katzman Vancouver 30km 3*** 58/
41/
1:39
60/
39/
1:39/
3:18
 
Ryan Conroy Vancouver 30km 1 ?/?/
1:46
?/?/
1:45/
3:31
 
               
Penny Jakobsen North Vancovuer 20km 2 2:29    
Melissa Pace North Vancouver 20km 1 2:29    
Michael Wardas N. Van 20km 2 2:29    
               
Paul Cubbon North Vancouver 15km   1:44    
desmond mott N. Vancouver 15km 2 1:44    
Rob Ruff Surrey 15km 2 1:45    
Rea blyth north vancouver 15km 1 1:48    
stephen blyth north vancouver 15km 1 1:48    
Ron Adams North Vancouver 15km 1 1:07/
0:48/
1:55
   
Doug MacKay North Vancouver 15km 2 2:01    
Gord Thompson Coquitlam 15km 2 1:16/
0:54/
2:10
   
Ryne Melcher North Vancouver 15km 3* 2:11    
laddie hannam north vancouver 15km 2*** 1:17/
0:55/
2:12
   
John Machray North Vancouver 15km   2:40    
Ran Katzman Vancouver 30km 2 58/
41/
1.39
60/
39/
1.39/
3.18
 
               
Jojo Cheesepig North Vancouver 5km 1 0:44    
Ean Jackson North Vancouver 5km 4** 0:44    
EJ Powderhound North Vancouver 5km 1 0:44    
Masaki Umehara Japan 5km 1 0:44    
Rick Arikado North Vancouver 5km 1 ?    
               
Graham Archer   4km - bike 1 0:15    
               
Danielle MacLeod North Vancouver crew 1 crew    

* Garbage Point
** EH Point
*** Bonus Point for special kindness

2007 - Year 6 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

2007-03-18

2007 Spring Starter Photo: 20 Starters - 20 Finishers

What was unique and exciting about the 6th annual Spring version of the mountain Highway Madness? Most noticeable was the impact of the new, improved start of daylight savings time which had gone into effect a week earlier.  It was pitch black when we woke up and equally as dark as we made our way to the start of the run in the Lynn Valley area of North Vancouver.

The weather Gods had not been kind of late.  It had been raining heavily in the Vancouver area for at least a week.  I'm sure the promise of a pause in the monsoons motivated many participants in today's run, as elsewhere in the city it was dry and spring-like.  However, as early arrivals huddled with me in the car to stay warm and dry to the last possible minute, we concluded it would be another wet one in the mountains.

The sound of rushing water was everywhere.  Creeks were full to bursting and the waterfall that marks the start of Mountain Highway Madness drowned out the start line announcements.  There were still a large number of fallen trees on and next to old Mountain Highway from the harsh winter wind storms and the dirt road itself was gouged from the effects of the torrential monsoons.

Cheryl and Craig opted to get a lap in early and make it back in time for the starter photo, but rain was falling fairly hard so we started on time. (Sorry, guys!)  On the morning after St. Patrick's Day, Irish John looked in good spirits.  Find any leprechauns last night, John?  New Club Fat Ass members Marg and Felicia were surely wondering what they had got themselves into as everyone headed up the road and into the rain and fog.

The promised lull in the storm came roughly 10 minutes into the run when everyone was soaked.  It was so misty and humid, however, few runners noticed that the rain had stopped.

Wade and I had run the course a few weeks earlier and found the snowline at roughly 5K up the road.  The warmer weather and rains had cleared away almost a kilometer of snow, but left about the same before the turnaround point.

There were first a few patches of snow, but coming around a switchback, it was as if there was over a meter of cold mushy stuff in the path. Andy and some of the lead runners found themselves following in the footsteps of Cheryl and Craig.  Step in the wrong spot and you were in snow to above your knees!  Even for those runners who benefited from misery of those who passed before, it was slow going as they sank to mid-calf.

As if on cue, a brilliant spring sunshine broke through the clouds as we regrouped for brunch at the Mosquito Creek Grill.  Craig, Cheryl, Baldwin and Wade we still slogging it out as we toasted their good health and longevity on the trails with a cool, lager. Many thanks to North Shore Athletics and TrailRunner Magazine for the draw prizes and the MosquitoCreek Grill for the free pint.

Ean Jackson
Host of Mountain Highway Madness

To see more photos, please go here for a slideshow.
 

First Name Last Name Event P 1 Lap up/down/total
2nd Lap up/down/total 3rd Lap up/down/total
Glenn Pace 45km 2 0:53/0:36/1:29 0:53/0:38/1:31 1:01/0:40/4:42
Wade Repta 45km 2 ? ? ?
Cheryl Johnson 45km 2
1:18/1:01/2:19
1:26/1:30/5:15
1:59/0:59/7:13 early start
Craig Moore 45km 2 1:18/1:01/2:19 2:26/1:30/5:15 2:59/0:59/7:13 early start
             
Andy  Nicol 30km 1 ? ?  
Ellie Greenwood 30km 2 0:51/0:31/1:22 0:55/0:29/2:46  
Ran Katzman 30km 52/33/1.25 54/30/2:49  
Ryan Conroy 30km 1 0:56/0:38/1:34 0:59/0:41/3:14  
Amy MacArthur 30km 2 ?/?/1:36 ?/?/3:20  
Rob Ruff 30km 1 0:51/0:31 1:13/0:45/3:20  
John Machray 30km 2 1:16/0:46/2:02 1:15/1:00/4:17  
Baldwin Lee 30km 1 1:12/0:50/2:02 1:14/0:49/4:05 late start
             
Arlene MacAulay 15km 2 ?/?/1:35    
Bradley Jones 15km 1 ?/?/1:39    
Desmond Mott 15km 2 0:51/0:31/1:22    
John Mcgrath 15km 1 0:54/0:36/1:30    
Felicia Bochicchio 15km 1 1:08/0:45/1:53    
Laddie Hannam 15km 2 1:08/0:45/1:53    
Sibylle Tinsel 15km 2 1:16/0:46/2:02    
Marg Drewlo 15km 2 1:16/0:51/2:07    
Ean Jackson  0 2 EH   His excuse?  Ran Chuckanut 50km the day before...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 - Year 5 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

Mountain Highway Madness - 19 March 2006
(The Year of the Big Snow)

27 starters, 27 finishers


Saturday evening 8:00 pm. I get a call from my buddy Scott Riddell. Since neither he nor fellow ultrarunner Curb Ivanic could join us on Sunday morning, Scott tells me how they ran the Mountain Highway Madness course a day early. His message: "Be prepared for snow!" Too late to contact everyone in the event, I jog up the street to the local scoutmaster and borrow a trunkload of snowshoes.

Sunday morning 6:00 am. A frigging woodpecker starts pecking on my aluminum fireplace cap. I race downstairs for the slingshot, half forgetting that I'm supposed to be at the run start in about an hour. It's a gorgeous morning.

7:00 am. A bunch of runners have already assembled at the start. I pass along Scott's report and offer up snowshoes. No takers. We stash our aid next to a waterfall. It's a big field for a small run. After a 5 year absence from running, Joe Marchand is back. I notice a few folks I suspect were up all night at a St. Patrick's Day party. James Sinclair, a visitor from Southern Ontario, soaks up the atmosphere of the 'shore. We're off.

Within 5 minutes we see our first snow. By the time we reach the Van Tan Club 5 minutes later, there's accumulated snow and the first blown-down tree. I pause to put on my snowshoes. According to John's thermometer, it’s freezing...but it sure seems warm as we run up the mountain. Off with the jacket. With only a narrow path through the crusty snow, it's tough going. Everyone seems to be having fun, though. I've never run head to head against runners with my snowshoes and I'm getting my butt kicked.

8:45 am. The first runner, James from Ontario, comes hammering past us. Course record holder Geoff "Fluffy Bunny" Palmer is in hot pursuit. As we close in on the turnaround point, we are greeted by glorious blue skies and a warm sun. Dho...forgot the shades! No matter... it's back downhill through the forest and this time gravity is our friend. The good thing about the snow is that it covers the loose rock surface of old Mountain Highway, so the runners open it up. I pass a few of my pals then clip an ankle and go ass-over-teakettle into the snow. Fortunately, there were no witnesses as that might have cost me a round of beers!

9:45 am. I can't believe it...some people are back for a second lap! Back at the Van Tan Club, I take off the snowshoes. 'Feels weird to run in runners. I'm the last in on the first loop.

12:00 noon. We get together at the Mosquito Creek Grill for lunch, a free beer and a lot of laughs as we exchange stories. Amazingly, given the conditions, 5 people completed the course 3 times giving them another "ultra" to notch in their fuel belts. Equally amazing, there were no seriously wounded: Elke had a bit of bra burn, Craig wacked his leg straddling a blown-down tree and I lost some skin on my bare legs during my snowshoe wipeout. No prizes for trash pickup as there was thankfully no trash to be seen. Baldwin got slightly lost when he followed tracks through the stone quarry and up into the piney woods and the poor bugger was also victim of a theft. 'Seems some chickadee or squirrel swiped his peanut butter and jam sandwich!

Congrats to everyone who participated in this, the year of the big snow, at Mountain Highway Madness. See you in the fall.

Ean Jackson
Host of the Mountain Highway Madness <!-- Start of Flickr Badge -->

 

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<!-- End of Flickr Badge --> Preliminary Results

 


Gold - 3 laps - 45K

First Name Last Name Club
Points
Lap 1 up/down/
total
Lap 2
up/down/
total
Lap3
up/down/
total
Time
Mark Lesack 2        
Bill Dagg 2 51/35/
1:26
57/38/1:35 1:05/36/1:41 4:41
Glenn Pace 2 56:35/32:15/
1:28:50
53:14/36/
1:29:14
1:10:32/
41:51/
1:52:23
4:50:30
Louise McCor
quodale
1 59/43/1:42 60/52/1:52 1:01/41/1:42 5:17
Dave Smith 1 59/43/1:42 60/52/1:52 1:01/41/1:42 5:17


Silver - 2 laps - 30K

First Name Last Name Club
Points
Lap 1
up/down/total
Lap 2
up/down/total
Time
Geoffrey Palmer 2 ?/?/1:23 ?/?/1/25 2:48
J.P. Obbagy 1 53:24/33:33/
1:26:57
54:28/32:33/
1:27:01
2:53:56
RobRuff159/41/1:40 1:17/51/2:08 3:48
Baldwin Lee 2 1:10/44/1:54 1:15/41/1:56 3:50
Elke Bauer 2     4:00
Cheryl Johnson 2     4:30


Bronze - 1 lap - 15K

First Name Last Name Club
Points
Up Down Time
James Sinclair 1     1:23
DavidCrerar1  1:35
Bradley Jones 1     1:38:02
Berglind Hafsteinsdottir 2 1:04 39 1:43
Laddie Hannam 2 1:09 40 1:49
Craig Moore 2     2:12
Rhonda Schuller 2     2:12
Mike Palethorpe 1     ?
Desmond Mott 2 54:00 34:20 1:28:20
Patricia Jensen 1     1:29
John Machray 2     ?
Cynnimon Rain 1     ?
Jo Hauser 1     1:39
Joseph Marchand 2      
Ean Jackson 3     2:15

 

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Mountain Highway Madness Fun

Hi Ean,
Just to let you know, I did do the 2 laps after all and my total time was 4:30. What a fabulous day. Aside from the snow and the great company, one of the highlights for me was being lapped by Mark at the Quarry on my second and his third lap. I just turned around and he was there. Unbelievable! And he stopped to chat so he wasn't just racing. I thought Glen Pace & Bill Dagg were going to lap me too but I just barely held them off. Bill's last downhill was 35 minutes, pretty fast. Big congatulations to all who did 3 laps today.....amazing in all that snow.
Glad you started a conversation with the group that had started out at Propect Point that morning. That's a feat a person should know about.
Great event. Thank you & Sibylle for always showing up in so many ways (even when injured). Pete is so right. We owe you big time!

2005 - Year 4 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness


20 March 05 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

Heinous. "Adj. Grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable", according to dictionary.com.

There was considerable talk about the weather that greeted starters of the Mountain Highway Madness trail run this morning. After a winter of unseasonably sunny, warm days we were treated to some liquid sunshine. Heinous is how I'd describe our weather. The 7th Mountain Highway Madness will go down in the record books as being the event when most of the field poked their heads through the blinds, then returned to the comfort of their warm, dry bed.

For the 19 runners and 1 mountain biker who did participate, however, the run will go down in the training log as a "character builder".

According to Michelle Fredette, there were bands of sunlight and blue skies overhead when she left the False Creek area of Vancouver. Not so in the North Shore mountains! As if on cue as we congregated near the start line fountain, the skies above Mountain Highway opened up and the monsoons arrived. My typical long-winded welcome and pre-run briefing was abbreviated to, "Prize for the person who comes closest to guessing their first lap time. Free beer and some draw prizes at the Mosquito Creek Grill afterwards. Go!"

Sidelined with an injury, I brought my mountain bike along with the hope of being the first to log a bike time on the 15K up and down course. I confess that I was en route for Starbucks before the guilt overcame me.

It was a slow and lonely ride up. On a normal Sunday morning at 8:30 am, Mountain Highway is busy with mountain bikers seeking a hangover cure or nudists en route to the VanTan Club. Today, I had not even a doggie-walker to exchange greetings with. Low-hanging clouds blanketed the trail. Rain and condensation from my breath fogged the lenses of my glasses. I was less than 1/2 way up the mountain when elite Montrail Team runners Dom Repta and Andy Nicol appeared flying downhill through the haze.

Amazingly enough, everyone who I crossed had a smile on their face and appeared to be enjoying themselves. "Any snow at the turnaround?” I asked. "You bet," replied Jenn Winiarski. Great. I thought of Jim Mandelli, who, a week after pushing his bike over 50 miles thought the snow at the Susinita 100-miler in Alaska, would be completing his first lap of the Mountain Highway Madness about now.

The turnaround point in this run is a rock quarry. When I arrived, the road surface was relatively clear of ice and snow, but big, fat flakes were falling. I was soaked to the bone and very cold, so after taking a few photos, my only thought was to get into some dry clothes and to drink some warm beer. As I sped downhill, 10 runners were making their way back uphill for a second lap.

In spite of the weather, Dom Repta set a new course record of 2:13 for 2 laps. (Close on his heels, Andy Nicol also broke the course record with 2:15.)

Many thanks to Kelly and Lucie Nielson for buying us a beer and to Trail Runner Magazine and Hammer gel for the draw prizes. Happy trails...and hope to see you at the next Mountain Highway Madness in September!

Ean Jackson
Host of the Mountain Highway Madness

Results

Up Down Time Name
? ? 1:10:00 Michelle Fredette
48:20 30:00 1:18:20 Mary Shaughnessy
50:00 28:53 1:18:53 Curb Ivanic
57 34 1:31 Laddie Hannam
? ? 1:31:30 Cheryl Picot
    1:52 Ean Jackson (on bike)

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Time Name
? / ? / 1:06 ? / ? / 1:07:30 2:13:30! Dom Repta
40 / 26 / 1:06 43 / 26 / 1:09 2:15 Andy Nicol
42 / 30 / 1:12 45 / 28 /1:13 2:25 Bill Dagg
42 / 30 / 1:12 45 / 28 / 1:13 2:25 Ellie Greenwood
42 / 30:33 / 1:12:32 43:53 / 28:44 / 1:12:37 2.25 Chris Benn
45 / 30 / 1:15 50 / 31 / 1:21 2:36 Jim Mandelli
? / ? / 1:21 ? / ? / 1:19 2:40 Danilo Caron
? / ? / 1:21 ? / ? / 1:29 2:50 Jordan Marr
? ? 3:04 Rob MacDonald
58 / 50 / 1:48 1:15 / 56 / 2:11 3:59 Craig Moore
? / ? / 1:49 ? / ? / 2:11? 4:00 Jenn Winiarski
? / ? / 1:49 ? / ? / 2:11? 4:00 Mary Betts
? ? ? Rob Ruff

 

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Lap 3
(up/down/total)
Time Name
? ? ? ? Geoffrey Palmer

Total starters: 20
Total finishers: 20


2004 - Year 3 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Lap 3
(up/down/total)
Time Name Date
45:43 / 31:17
1:17
? / ?
1:15
? / ?
1:20
3:52 Andy Nicol 21 Mar 04
45:43 / 31:17
1:17
? / ?
1:15
? / ?
1:20
3:52 Dom Repta 21 Mar 04
48:49 / 34:11
1:23
42 / 53
1:35
? / ?
1:42
4:40 Glenn Pacé 21 Mar 04
48:49 / 34:11
1:23
42 / 53
1:35
? / ?
1:42
4:40 Ean Jackson 21 Mar 04

Silver - 2 Laps

46:00 / 33:00
1:19
51:00 / 34:00
1:25
2:44 Bill Dagg 21 Mar 04
48:49 / 34:11
1:23
42 / 53
1:35
2:58 Barry Chilibeck 21 Mar 04
45:44 / 26:16
1:12
58 / 53
1:51
3:03 Gary Robbins 21 Mar 04
50:00 / 27
1:17
2:30 3:47 Mark Fearman 21 Mar 04

Bronze - 1 Lap

Up Down Time Name Date
49:54 26:06 1:16 Michelle Fredette 21 Mar 04
51:54 35:00 1:26:54 Doug Mackay 21 Mar 04
53:00 37:00 1:30 Laddie Hannam 21 Mar 04


2003 - Year 2B - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

18 May 03

The thought in running this event twice in 03 was not to make up for 02, but rather to take advantage of a hole in the ultrarunning calendar caused by the cancellation of a popular ultramarathon. 

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Lap 3
(up/down/total)
Time Name
42:00 / 31:56
1:13:56
43:48 / 30:59
1:14:47
44:13 / 30:24
1:14:37
3:43:23 Wendy Montgomery

45:30 / 35:22
1:20:52

43:21 / 31:23
1:14:44
42:10 / 34:45
1:16:55
3:45:00 Jim Swadling

45:00 / 35:00
1:20:00

? / ?
?
? / ?
?
3:45:00 Andy Nicol

45:00 / 35:00
1:20:00

? / ?
?
? / ?
?
4:15:00 Scott Riddell
51:00 / 39:00 1:30:00 54:00/ 46:00 1:40:00 58:00 / 49:00
1:47:00

4:57:00

Dave Smith
51:00 / 39:00 1:30:00 54:00 / 46:00 1:40:00 58:00 /49:00
1:47:00

4:57:00

Louise McCorquodale
? / ?
?
? / ?
?
? / ?
?
? Kendell Dickinson

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Time Name
49:05 / 51:12
1:29:25
39:20 / 34:21
1:25:32
2:54:57 Rob MacDonald

Up Down Time Name
38:30 21:50 1:00:20 Brian Bjornson
39:29 26:03 1:05:32 Dave Cressman
55:00 40:00 1:35:00 Sean Finucane


2003 - Year 2A - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

20 April 03

We skipped a year because the weather was very lousy around this time in 02.   

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Time Name
45:00 / 43:00
1:08:00
23:00 / 26:00
1:09:00
2:17:00 Brian Bjornson
42:00 / 43:48
1:10:29
31:56 / 30:59
1:11:54
2:22:23 Wendy Montgomery
46:05 / 51:07
1:15:08
29:03 / 32:03
1:23:10
2:38:18 Dom Repta
43:00 / 58:15
1:08:00
25:00 / 32:03
1:30:18
2:38:18 Andy Nichol
46:05 / 51:07
1:15:08
29:03 / 32:03
1:23:10
2:38:18 Ean Jackson

2001 - Year 1 - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

7 April 01

This first running of the mountain Highway Madness started as a group run with 6 people.  It was quite cold and there was a lot of powder snow at the top and not a track to be seen.  As we neared the top, Jim Swadling came bounding out of nowhere.  He joined us and became the 7th finisher of 6 stasrters!

Ean Jackson
Host of Mountain Highway Madness

 Lap 1 (up/down/total)

Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Time Name
58:41 / 50:34 1:44:08 45:27 / 39:10 1:29:44 3:13:52

Michael Wardas
Curb Ivanic
Derrick Johnstone
Ean Jackson 


Up Down Time Name
58:41 45:27 1:44:08 Ron Adams
Sean Finucane
Jim Swadling

All Time Record Book

This is a record of everyone who has ever participated in Mountain Highway Madness listed by medal category and time. Thinking about doing MHM and wondering how you might rank? Done MHM in the past and wonder how your time stacks up against others who came before you? Interested in knowing if you're getting older or getting better? Check out the stats!

Platinum - 4 or more Laps

Lap 1Lap 2 Lap 3
Lap 4
Time
Name Date

52 / 38
1:30

54 / 38
1:32
55 / 40
1:35
65 / 45
1:50
6:27!

Geoff Palmer

11 Sep 04

Gold - 3 Laps

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Lap 3
(up/down/total)
Time Name Date
42:00 / 31:56
1:13:56
43:48 / 30:59
1:14:47
44:13 / 30:24
1:14:37
3:43:23! Wendy Montgomery 18 May 03

45:30 / 35:22
1:20:52

43:21 / 31:23
1:14:44
42:10 / 34:45
1:16:55
3:45:00! Jim Swadling 18 May 03

45:00 / 35:00
1:20:00

? / ?
?
? / ?
?
3:45:00! Andy Nicol 18 May 03
45:43 / 31:17
1:17
? / ?
1:15
? / ?
1:20
3:52 Andy Nicol 21 Mar 04
45:43 / 31:17
1:17
? / ?
1:15
? / ?
1:20
3:52 Dom Repta 21 Mar 04

45:00 / 35:00
1:20:00

? / ?
?
? / ?
?
4:15:00 Scott Riddell 18 May 03
46:08 / 32:32 1:18:40 47:53 / 33:05 1:20:58 61:37 / 34:22
1:35:59

4:15:37

Scott Riddell 13 Sep 03
46:08 / 32:32 1:18:40 47:53 / 33:05 1:20:58 61:37 / 34:22
1:35:59

4:15:37

Ean Jackson 13 Sep 03
52 / 38
1:30
54 /38
1:32
55 / 40
1:35

4:37

Allison Knowles 11 Sep 04
48:49 / 34:11
1:23
42 / 53
1:35
? / ?
1:42
4:40 Glenn Pacé 21 Mar 04
48:49 / 34:11
1:23
42 / 53
1:35
? / ?
1:42
4:40 Ean Jackson 21 Mar 04
51:00 / 39:00 1:30:00 54:00/ 46:00 1:40:00 58:00 / 49:00
1:47:00

4:57:00

Dave Smith 18 May 03
51:00 / 39:00 1:30:00 54:00 / 46:00 1:40:00 58:00 /49:00
1:47:00

4:57:00

Louise McCorquodale 18 May 03
? / ?
?
? / ?
?
? / ?
?
? Kendell Dickinson 18 May 03

Silver - 2 Laps

Lap 1
(up/down/total)
Lap 2
(up/down/total)
Time Name Date
45:00 / 43:00
1:08:00
23:00 / 26:00
1:09:00
2:17:00! Brian Bjornson 20 April 03
42:00 / 43:48
1:10:29
31:56 / 30:59
1:11:54
2:22:23! Wendy Montgomery 20 April 03
46 / 27
1:13
47 / 29
1:16
2:29 Colin Freeland 11 Sep 04
45:00 / 46:00
1:15:49
30:49 / 31:00
1:17:00

2:32:49

Patricia Jensen 13 Sep 03
46:05 / 51:07
1:15:08
29:03 / 32:03
1:23:10
2:38:18 Dom Repta 20 April 03
43:00 / 58:15
1:08:00
25:00 / 32:03
1:30:18
2:38:18 Andy Nichol 20 April 03
46:05 / 51:07
1:15:08
29:03 / 32:03
1:23:10
2:38:18 Ean Jackson 20 April 03
43:00 / 52:00
1:13:00
30:00 / 34:15
1:26:15

2:39:15

Colin Freeland 13 Sep 03
46:08 / 47:53
1:18:40
32:32 / 33:05
1:20:58

2:39:38

Michael Wardas 13 Sep 03
46:00 / 33:00
1:19
51:00 / 34:00
1:25
2:44 Bill Dagg 21 Mar 04
46:08 / 47:53
1:15:49
32:32 / 33:05
1:31:06

2:46:55

Rick Arikado 13 Sep 03
48:41 / 31:41
1:19:22
50:36 / 36:45
1:27:21
2:47 Rob Ruff 11 Sep 04
49:05 / 51:12
1:29:25
39:20 / 34:21
1:25:32
2:54:57 Rob MacDonald 18 May 03
48:49 / 34:11
1:23
42 / 53
1:35
2:58 Barry Chilibeck 21 Mar 04
45:44 / 26:16
1:12
58 / 53
1:51
3:03 Gary Robbins 21 Mar 04
58:41 / 50:34 1:44:08 45:27 / 39:10 1:29:44 3:13:52 Michael Wardas
Curb Ivanic
Derrick Johnstone
Ean Jackson
7 April 01
53 / 37
1:30
60 /4 5/
1:45
3:15 Ken Hardinge-Rooney 11 Sep 04
52:30 / 35:10
1:27:40
64 / 53:16
1:57:16
3:24:56 Doug MacKay 11 Sep 04
50:00 / 27
1:17
2:30 3:47 Mark Fearman 21 Mar 04

Bronze - 1 Lap

Up Down Time Name Date
38:30 21:50 1:00:20! Brian Bjornson 18 May 03
39:29 26:03 1:05:32 Dave Cressman 18 May 03
43:00 25:00 1:08:00! Patricia Jensen 20 April 03
49:54 26:06 1:16 Michelle Fredette 21 Mar 04
53 32 1:25 Jessica Anderson 11 Sep 04
53 33 1:26 Berglind Hafsteinsdottir 11 Sep 04
53 33 1:26 Laddie Hannan 11 Sep 04
51:54 35:00 1:26:54 Doug Mackay 21 Mar 04
53 35 1:28 Maria Zerjav 11 Sep 04
53 36 1:29 Melissa Pacé 11 Sep 04
53:00 37:00 1:30 Laddie Hannam 21 Mar 04
55:00 40:00 1:35:00 Sean Finucane 18 May 03
58:41 45:27 1:44:08 Ron Adams
Sean Finucane
Jim Swadling
7 April 01
78 47 2:05 Pat Barry 11 Sep 04
78 47 2:05 Sibylle Tinsel 11 Sep 04

Footnotes:

  • the first 'official' MHM in 2001 was a group run that started with 6 people. Jim Swadling came bounding out of the snowy woods in the middle of nowhere on the 'up' run and completed the lap. (That's why there were 6 starters and 7 finishers)
  • ? - the person lost or didn't record the particular split time
  • ! - current course record (male and female)

Confirmation

The following people are registered for this event:

1) Sarah anderson (45km - 3 loops)
2) Noal Cattone (45km - 3 loops)
3) Sibylle Tinsel (30km - 2 loops)
4) Rob Smith (30km - 2 loops)
5) David Froh (15km - 1 loop)
6) Tom Froh (15km - 1 loop)
7) Micah Lang (15km - 1 loop)
8) Rachel Tanya Fouladi (30km - 2 loops)
9) desmond mott (15km - 1 loop)
10) Ean Jackson (15km - 1 loop)
11) Dave Berg (30km - 2 loops)

Agenda

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Spring Mountain Highway Madness
Sunday 21 March 2010

6:00? Get up. Check the weather. Print off this agenda so you can be sure to find the start.
07:00 Arrive at the end of Mountain Highway, North Vancouver. Find a parking spot. Allow 15 minutes to get to start. Check-in.
07:20 Welcome and final briefing
07:25 Photo?
07:30 Start
08:30 First lap finisher
09:30 Second lap finisher? (and so on...)
12:00 Lunch at the Mosquito Creek Grill for all who are interested and not still running


How to get to the start?

From Highway #1 in North Vancouver, take the Lynn Valley Road exit heading north toward the mountains. At the lights just past the big mall, turn left onto Mountain Highway. Follow it to where it ends.

Note: This is a residential area that is heavily used by weekend warriors. Permits are required on the streets close to the start and many others nearby have 2-hour parking restrictions, so expect to walk a few blocks to the run start. Plan to get there at least 15 minutes early so you make the official start. Don't park in a permit area unless you really want a ticket as the parking folks are aggressive.

Javascript is required to view this map.

Route

Here's a trail run you really have to try hard to get lost on!

Old Mountain Highway is wide. The surface is a bit rocky, but not in the least technical. There's a constant grade, but the entire course is runable for most runners in decent shape. There's very rarely any vehicular traffic and the mountain bikers are friendly if you don't taunt them as you run by. The air is fresh and and there are lots of grouse (thump! thump! thump!) and woodpeckers (tap! tap! tap!) to keep you company. If you see a bear or coyote, clap your hands. They will either run back into the woods or eat you.

Start at the concrete water tap next to the waterfall, just past where the pavement of Mountain Highway ends and the dirt of Old Mountain Highway begins. You are timing yourself, so be sure to start your watch.

Run up the dirt road until it starts to flatten out and you can look across a wide valley to Grouse Mountain. You will reach a stone quarry on your right. The official 1/2 way point for timing purposes is the big boulder that is partially buried in the dirt opposite the entrance to the quarry. (Someone has sprayed '7 km' on the rock.) If you don't care about the seconds, take your split time at the entrance to the quarry. Be sure to note your split time somewhere if you want to go down in history.

Turn around and run back to the fountain. Take your time when you touch the fountain and be sure to write it down on the timing sheet. Repeat until you can't anymore.


What to Bring?

Bring your own food. There is a water tap at the start, but be prepared in case it is out of service.

Bring your own official timing system (a watch will do, even if the second hand doesn't work.) There will be a pen and paper to record your split times.

Bring a change of clothes for afterward.

Post-Event

For those left standing, a post event celebration will be held at the Mosquito Creek Grill. The Mosquito Creek is about 10 minutes in the Westview Plaza at Westview and Highway #1. Their telephone number is 604-983-3083. this helps us to prepare better. Please note that new license at the Mosquito Creek Grill requires that finisher party attendees be 19+ years old.


Other Notes

A lap is 15 kilometers return (approximately 7.5 km up and the same down unless you inexplicably get lost).

If you want to go down in the records, please record your split times (time to top, time back to start) on the sheet provided at the lunch rocks.

This event is not sponsored, sanctioned, permitted or anything else that would qualify it as an official event.

Expect rain, some mud, snow probable in the spring, some old friends and maybe some new.

Course

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Results | Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact


Here's a trail run you really have to try hard to get lost on!

Old Mountain Highway is wide. The surface is a bit rocky, but not in the least technical. There's a constant grade, but the entire course is runable for most runners in decent shape. There's very rarely any vehicular traffic and the mountain bikers are friendly if you don't taunt them as you run by. The air is fresh and and there are lots of grouse (thump! thump! thump!) and woodpeckers (tap! tap! tap!) to keep you company. If you see a bear or coyote, clap your hands. They will either run back into the woods or eat you.

Start at the concrete water tap next to the waterfall, just past where the pavement of Mountain Highway ends and the dirt of Old Mountain Highway begins. You are timing yourself, so be sure to start your watch.

Run up the dirt road until it starts to flatten out and you can look across a wide valley to Grouse Mountain. You will reach a stone quarry on your right. The official 1/2 way point for timing purposes is the big boulder that is partially buried in the dirt opposite the entrance to the quarry. If you don't care about the seconds, take your split time at the entrance to the quarry. Be sure to note your split time somewhere if you want to go down in history.

Turn around and run back to the fountain. Take your time when you touch the fountain and be sure to write it down on the timing sheet. Repeat until you can't anymore.

Background

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Trail runners, especially ultrarunners, have long recognized Old Mountain Highway in North Vancouver, British Columbia, as a great place to train.

The inaugural Mountain Highway Madness was hosted on 7 April 2001 by Ean Jackson as a training exercise for the Diez Vista 50k trail run. There were 6 starters, and 7 finishers. Given almost all of Old Mountain Highway was covered in snow in April 2002, the event was cancelled. On Easter Sunday (20 April) and again on 18 May 2003 records fell in almost every category. A little more structure was subsequently added to the event in the form of this website and more formal record keeping.

Mountain Highway Madness is now held twice a year. The dates were chosen to make this even a great last training run for those participating in the Diez Vista and Silvertip 50 kilometer trail races.

The Glory

There's no trophy, t-shirt, ball cap or shiny car for the fastest or the last one left standing. Bragging rights are, however, available to those who are prepared to earn them:

Bragging Right

Accomplishment

Platinum 4 or more round trips
Gold 3 or more round trips
Silver 2 or more round trips
Bronze 1 round trip
Raspberry an incomplete lap

Thanks!

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results | Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact


My hope was to make this event totally self-supporting. In other words, do all of the organization myself and also participate. Wishful thinking! It's all about teamwork. Preparation for this loosely-organized event is ongoing throughout the year and a lot of people chip in to make it successful. Please join me in recognizing the following people and businesses:

MEC and Nestle - Thank you for making sure that our aid station was well-stocked with PowerBars and PowerGels!


Kintec Footlabs

Thank you  for the awesome recognition prizes and participating in the run.

 

Trail Runner - www.trailrunnermag.com/
Thank you for the gift subscriptions to your popular magazine as draw prize. Also for offering members of Club Fat Ass a special discounted subscription price

   
Mosquito Creek Grill
As always, Kelly Nielson and Lucie Paquet were awesome hosts for the finisher party. Thank you for the great food and celebratory pint!

If you'd like to support Mountain Highway Madness in some way, we'd love to have you onboard. At the very least, we can promise you a place on this Thank You page!

Please contact us with your thoughts on how you'd like to participate.

FAQ

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results | Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

Q: I've never done a trail run before. Is this a good place to start?
A: It's a toughie, but if you can run a 1/2 marathon on the road and are comfortable carrying your own food and water, you should be good for at least a bronze. (Each lap is about 15 kilometers.)
Q: Do I need to print off course instructions and bring them with me?
A: You should know how to get to the start, but once on Old Mountain Highway, it is hard to get lost.
Q: What if I get lost?
A: You shouldn't get lost! Stay on the road. If you do feel you are lost, ask a mountain biker or just turn around and follow the same road you came up on back down to the gate.
Q: What if I have to heed the call of nature.
A: There is an outhouse at the bike drop-off loop near the start. If you have to go near the top of the mountain, be discreet, do your business at least 10 meters from the trail and bury anything solid at least 10 cm deep. Whatever you do, don't pee in someone's front yard! (It happens. And the locals are not happy. That's why there are now parking restrictions.)
Q: What should I bring on race day?
A: Please check the agenda for thoughts
Q: I am supposed to be self-sufficient because there is no aid provided. Can I get a friend to come out and give me food and drink along the route?
A: Absolutely! In fact, it would be nice if your friend were to help everyone. See aid stations and crew for some thoughts on what they might be able to do to help.
Q: Where can I park? Where can I change?
A: Parking is an issue. A lot of mountain bikers and many runners park here at all hours and tick off the homeowners. This has prompted parking restrictions, so if you don't want a ticket, plan to park a few blocks from the start and heed the signs. Anticipate walking 15 minutes or jogging 10 minutes from where you park to the start. Whatever you do, please don't strip down to the buff or heed the call of nature in front of someone's home. It is considered bad form and the primary reason why parking is an issue.

Contact - Spring Mountain Highway Madness

I welcome your comments, criticisms, feedback and questions.

Please be sure to read the the Agenda and FAQ section of this website first, as this is where I've tried to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Ean Jackson - Your CFA Event Host
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