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Sanctioned Event
This event is sanctioned by the Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF), a member of the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) and is eligible for the IVV achievement award program.
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 WELCOME TO THE GREAT LAKE WALK to be held on
the third Saturday of September
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Comments from 2010 |2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
| more from 2002 | still more from 2002
Scrapbook comments from 2006 |
2005...
Comments from Times Colonist in 2008
Inspired To Walk for Those Who Can't ....Until we have no Reason to Walk"
To the organizers and Volunteers of the Great Lake Walk:
Just wanted to tell you how much my daughter and I enjoyed the Great Lake Walk. The organization, efforts, helpfulness, and friendliness of the people involved in putting on this large and complicated event were tops.
We were surprised (pleasantly surprised) to see that people would get up early in the morning to watch participants shuffle by in the dark at the start of the walk: amazing. As we got into the residential areas towards the latter part of the walk, other citizens were out to provide encouragement for the walkers: even small wrapped chocolates were available from one household near the roadside.
The checkpoints were well manned and stocked with a variety of foods and liquids for the walkers: what a bonus. Road-monitors and paramedics did a fine job. The directions and information signs along the road were appreciated. My daughter and I laughed with admiration at the large painted scenes of walkers in various poses. Most noticeable was the enthusiasm and efforts generated by the people involved in running this most successful event. You will stage this event next year, won’t you?! We’re certainly looking forward to returning to your community to do this walk again.
A great overall job: also the weather was perfect (how did you arrange it?)
Warmest congratulations!
With hearty “thanks.”
Daryl & Alison Bissell
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience - once in a lifetime accomplishment inspired by the memory of a co-worker who lost her battle with cancer in the summer. Over $300.00 was raised (through the department I work in at the College) to purchase a bench in her memory which will be situated on the Camosun College grounds.
The walk was extremely well organized for a first time event. The community as a whole was receptive and warm - the true spirit of the Cowichan Valley community shone throughout the gorgeous day! Both my sister and I very much enjoyed being part of the memorable experience! Some suggestions for next year:
More training tips for novice walkers (not accustomed to doing marathons etc) - offer more info as to where to access information, who to see etc. Encourage participants at rest times to drink lots of water - not only powerade as well as other fitness tips. Perhaps, reinforcing the reason for the various refreshments would have been good (especially for the novices).
More protein at rest stops. Offering information - reasonable time to rest to avoid "seizing up" if stopped to long. A cool down at the completion of the walk - not ending at a building but on a field and being encouraged to cool down and stretch as well as
drinking fluids (water)!!
Staggering starts - later for runners, as so many started at the same time - could the event start a bit later (less darkness/increased light)? Clearer explanations re; drop offs for clothes/supplies as there seemed to be some confusion about this! Start at Lake Cowichan - larger community more room! Or, shuttle services from Lake Cowichan to Youbou. What about completing the entire circuit for those interested?? The connections (shuttles) to Youbou were very, very early in the morning - 2 am is a bit too early! What about the option of half the route? The entire route - Youbou to Youbou (as noted above) for those interested in the extra challenge? Categorizing finishes - runners verse walkers, verses those that combined walking with running?
All, all you can be very proud and satisfied with your efforts!!! it would be great if there were more opportunities for walks such as this - say, at least 3-4 times a year!
Sincerely, Dianne Belliveau
Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication to bring off a fantastic day of walking around the Cowichan Lake.....it was truly a great walk.....everything was top notch...thanks again Marlene...hope this will be an annual event.....you can count me in....
Cheers jan gavel president comox glacier wanderers
Just looking forward to next year’s event. We had a great time. You did a great job with the rest stops especially. Is there any chance that next year it will start a little later? Maybe a little closer to sunrise so that we don't trip in the potholes? Just curious. Thanks Lisa
Hi. First let me say thank you to all the volunteers at the Great Lake Walk. You did an amazing job. Everything was very well organized and there was great support from the volunteers and residents of the area. We had a great time.
Thanks, Debi Wight #823
Greetings,
Just want to tell you that this was indeed a GREAT WALK! Thanks to the organizers, the volunteers and the entire community; the people who came out to cheer the walkers were fantastic. I have not been to this part of the island before, but I'll definitely be back to spend some time exploring the area. So thanks to everyone there! It was a great idea and it was a great success.
Susan Fordham, Vancouver
I am a bit late in sending out an email, but better late then never. I would like to congratulate you on a job so well done. Having been your first go at it, you did an awesome job. I was not completely sure of what to expect, being my first time doing such a distance. I was heart felt by the community support. Absolutely, everyone was so supportive as they either drove past, or at the pit stops, even other walkers supporting one another. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was delightful. I was one of the last few walkers to come in. There were three of us together, struggling, like many others to finish. My favourite word in the English language that day was 'FINISH'. It was so great to get to ring the bell. After healing many blisters, and aches and pains. I do believe we will be back next year. I have read all the other email prior to mine and found that their feedback was similar to my thoughts, with the exception of, the fan fare at the end. I think for those who finished very late like myself, may have been disappointed to see things coming down. I realize it is a long day for everyone, and that it may not be something that can be extended. I think the idea that was mentioned to start later in the day, would make it almost dark when you are arriving at the finish line. It would deter me from wanting to finish, if when being that exhausted, and adding darkness to the picture. I give a high five to every single person that volunteered and supported the walk and look forward to joining you all again next year.
Thanx for everything #815 Cheryl
It has now been three weeks since the walk and the blisters and muscles are almost healed. Unfortunately, I did not train for this walk and would recommend a few long walks beforehand to any future walker! I would like to say congrats to the girls ahead, Penny, Jeannie & Tracey, to my ringing the bell partner and sister-in-law, Carolynn and especially to my mother-in-law, Judy, who made it 40km, which is a huge accomplishment - we are proud of her to have made it this far. The people manning the stations along the route were wonderful, every time I tried to fill my water bottle, some one would grab it and fill it for me and the snacks were great, although being at the back of the pack for half of the walk, we were only left with jelly sandwiches, which were good, but I heard rumours there were cheese earlier! I agree with other comments that the gravel road was tough to walk on and once I hit the pavement, the damage was done. We were fortunate to be staying in Honeymoon Bay with a hot tub and a cold lake to stick my feet in afterwards, but it took a few nights to get a good sleep (I kept dreaming of the gravel path in front of me). Thanks again for an awesome job by all the volunteers - very much appreciated!
Sandra Skene #719
I would just like to thank all the volunteers for the exceptional work done. It was amazing the thorough approach you took so that we were so well taken care of (not just "watered and feed"). I look forward to next year. Sincerely, Catherine Sterle
From the first day that this event was announced it has been one first class process and yesterday, THE DAY, was no exception. There may be 800 plus stories about the day but one common theme surely emerges - it was a huge success. What makes an event of this nature is not the weather, not the route, and not the prizes. The degree of success is in the organization and especially in the quality of the interactions. Here is a unanimous sentiment - the volunteers were terrific! Their encouragement and support and the speed with which they processed us through really was admirable. It is clear that you folks have not only learned from the Great Walk but also upped the ante in a collegial manner. Thank you and see you next year for sure. Les Hudson
Thanx for a job well done. It was my first event such as this, and it was quite an experience! My only complaint would be the size of the "rocks", not gravel, on part of the gravel road; made it quite treacherous in some areas. Also, at least 2 vehicles who drove by without slowing down at all, and having to wait for our bags from check stop 10. Next year, in your "Tips" page; maybe suggest wearing gloves, as our hands were almost numb in the morning. All in all, I was impressed with how smoothly it all went, and the amount of support from people around the lake. Thank you again, Lisa Venoit #788. Thank you to all who volunteered, cheered, watched and waved! The GLW was a very well organized event that I can't wait to do again next year. I'm very glad that I had a flashlight at 4:00 am; there were many that didn't. I do wish that I would have brought some gloves though, my hands were numb for the first few hours. I too, would've liked some kind of a sheet, or something to change behind at the checkpoints with bags at them...I know Youbou got some bare backsides pointed their way as we changed into our shorts behind the rock at checkpoint 8!! The cheers and encouragement along the way was phenomenal, and much appreciated; I did enjoy a Mars bar at Honeymoon Bay! The only "problem" we had was the fact that our bags weren't picked up from checkpoint 10, and we had to wait an hour for them. We missed what was going on upstairs, as we were looking and waiting for our bags, and wanting desperately to go home! Also, not enough potties at the first 3 checkpoints; we figure we wasted about an hour waiting in line-ups (one of us had a cup of tea at 3:00 in the morning!!) Congratulations to all on a fantastic job with the inaugural Great Lake Walk!! I can't wait until next year! Lisa #788
Wow! What a great job everyone did for your first walk - from the people at registration to the check stops and finish line, and the weather provider!. A group of us came from Courtenay to do the walk - we also did the Great Walk together, and we had a great time. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the WONDERFUL food at all the check stops! As you can imagine food plays a big part in whether a person makes the finish line or not and your food was the best - thank you just doesn't cover it. To the group between check point 10 & 11 (I think) who supplied the chocolate bars and encouragement - that was exactly what I needed at that point in the walk. I heard afterwards that you were not an official check stop and did this on your own - give yourselves a big hug and a pat on the back because you deserve it! (If this could be passed on to the parties involved I would appreciated it - thanks.) Only a couple of things marred the walk, one was the road condition - I realize this is a logging road and that it needs to be well maintained but it would sure be nice for next year if they could put off grading the road for at least 3 days prior to the walk - all those rocks and pebbles the grader stirs up are very hard on the feet. The other thing was the need to shower right after arriving at the finish line - especially if you are a runner - having to wait ‘til 1:30 is to long but then you are chilled and aches and pains are setting in that could have been helped by being able to shower sooner. I hope this feedback will help with next years walk and please don't take the feedback as something very negative as I am not meaning it to be that way. When you attempt something like this for the first time there are going to be rough spots that need to be ironed out and if no one says anything you would never know what needs to be changed or improved. I look forward to returning to Lake Cowichan/Youbou for next years walk. Thank you once again for a great walk. Anne Harmston C.V. Hospice Society - Team with a Dream Courtney.
We want to thank all the organizers and volunteers who did such a wonderful job for us on the first Great Lake Walk. The organization was impeccable (you thought of everything - including the weather) and carrying it out seemed to go ever so smoothly. The wonderful refreshments, drinks and enthusiastic volunteers really helped to spur us on and keep us going to the very end. We were also very impressed with how supportive the local community people were as we made our way through their areas. We will be singing your praises to many other friends who will no doubt be inspired for next year - presuming that such a successful event will be repeated. Carolyn Lawson and Carlie Holland
Hello to all the volunteers and organizers and especially the walkers. We have "played" in your back yard for several years now and we want to wish all the walkers well...safe journey. To the volunteers - what would any organization do without you and your dedication? Thank you for your time. To the organizers - taking on a challenge as exciting and rewarding as this says a lot about who you are. Thank you for sharing your many skills and talents to make this Great Lake Walk a success. It has been successful already and you haven't left the "gate" yet. Way to go! To my sister - Helen Evans and my "great" nephew - Matt Hamilton -thanks for letting us share in your walk. I'll be out Sunday the 21st at 7am in Ontario when you start off from Youbou. I just wish I could be there with you. The web page is full of fantastic information. Keep up the good work. Have fun...be safe...warm regards, Sandra Sproul, Kitchener, Ontario
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