Salomon trail labs
"A casual but challenging trail run on the north shore mountains." - Shanna Liber
If you live in the Vancouver area and enjoy trail running, there is a group run that takes place all winter long on Saturday mornings at 8 am. This group is called the Salomon Trail Lab.
It. Is. Awesome.
Started 4 years ago through the Salomon store by Salomon Ambassador Brice Ferre, the runs often had smaller groups back then. Brice says it was Katie Mills joining the crew that made the runs what they are today “she became our fearless leader. It's been pretty great to see this group grow and to be part of this community.”
Katie is quick to push the focus back on the group at large though “Trail Labs wouldn't be possible without the wonderful people that also volunteer to give up their Saturday mornings and help me out. It's a great crew! And of course, everyone who comes out every week. I really missed seeing everyone during covid and I’m so stoked to get back out there this winter!”
Getting back out there this winter has been a lot of fun thus far. I’ve met a bunch of new people who love the trail running community. The great thing about the Trail Labs is they cater to all trail runners, regardless of pace. Ferre makes that clear when describing what Trail Labs are all about “you can run for 12 to 15 km surrounded by awesome like-minded runners without ever having to worry about where you're going because the Salomon Leaders got your back the whole way.” Shanna Liber, who is a newer runner herself, appreciates the way the runs are organized “I appreciate the group speeds as I can find which group I fit in speed wise easily, without judgment.”
They are extremely inclusive, social, with lots of variety and you can always learn from others! - Sarah Carter
Trails are awesome, group is awesome, and there is no such thing as bad weather. - Marla S.
The group usually meets in different spots on the north shore each week. It’s a great way to learn new trails, as the group has leaders at each pace and everyone is just looking to have fun and stay together. Greg Faber loves the variation “Salomon Trail lab has taken me to areas of the North Shore I never knew were there.” Andrea Burley was on the same page “it helps me learn how to link different trails on the north shore together.” That’s definitely been a favourite part for me as well. It’s so cool to cruise along with such great company, and link together my own “mind map” a little more each time!
If it hasn’t been made completely obvious by this point, it’s just a really fun group to be a part of, and that sentiment is wide-reaching:
I was fortunate enough to meet most of my friends through trail lab years ago. It’s a pleasure spending time on the trails with old friends and getting an opportunity to meet new ones! - Glen Young
Short, sweet and always good company. - Simon Widmann
I love hanging out with a group at TL to get my social fix! - Katie Mills
There is no cost to run with the group and it’s very easy to sign up, as the group uses an app called Spond.
A casual but challenging trail run on the north shore mountains. - Shanna Liber
A group trail run where you can meet other like-minded runners on some of the best trails in Vancouver. - Andrea Burley
Fun and well organized, meeting new people, excellent routes. A trail running group for people with some running experience to advanced runners. - David Chen
Each week, usually on Thursday, the route is released (with a Strava map) and sign-up is opened. It fills up pretty fast. But it’s easy! You simply sign up to be a part of the group, and you get a notification any time the run is organized. It’s so worth it!
