January 25th, 2015
As I was driving out to Otway Nordic Centre, I noticed all the traffic cones along foothills. My first thought was that road repairs where happening, but then I realized that was how they were going to keep the runners safe. When I arrived at Otway it was hard to catch the excitement, as the crowd was buzzing with all the excited adults and children. The PA system was reminding everyone to get to the starting line and was listing off the names of the teams competing. There was some fantastic names my favourites include, CHAFING THE DREAM, Do you want to build an Iceman?, Daphy’s Ducks, Game of Groans, I Put the Hot in Psychotic, Victorious Secret, NMP Red Hot Snow Plows, His Royal Thighness and the ThighMates, Minions Gone Mad and of course Team CKPG! Before I knew the soloists and juniors had already lined up to start, and what a start it was. There was a couple falls, but everyone got on their way smiling. As they went around the track, the Teams started to limber up. I took the advantage and snapped some photos. Then they where off and the first soloists where coming into the finish line. Where they would race to the changing area, and swap out skis for shoes, or in the team race they would pass off the time chip to a waiting member. Lots of volunteers where lining the area with free beverages and lots of encouraging words for the competitors. From Ottway the competitors would run to the Ice Oval, bypassing that event as the weather was too warm for the Ice, around the front of the CN parking lot and into the Prince George Acquatic Centre. There they would change, or hand off the time chip. Then they would be in the pool to do their 800 meters. Overall this event was really exciting to watch, and was so impressive. So to all those that competed, give yourself a pat on the back, to all those interested in competing you can go to the PG Iceman’s website.