This is an article published in the Goldstream News Gazette just a few days ago:

===================

The GutBuster trail running series is entering its eighth year under new direction from a pair long-time Langford runners. Nick Walker and Mark Nelson have taken over the venture from Bryan Tasaka, the series creator. Nelson and Walker are both co-owners of Frontrunners in Langford and now they are co-owners of the GutBuster series.

We both love this event and if we didn’t take it over, it might not have continued, Walker said. The pair figured that continuing on with the original series would be easier than organizing an entirely new but unfamiliar event.

“If we hadn’t bought the GutBuster name we would of had to to start our own series and find our own venues,” Nelson said.

Some changes have been made to the GutBuster series since the change in ownership. This year all but one race will be held on Sunday except for the Ascent race which will still be held on a Saturday.

“We are always looking for new courses and this year we are asking participants for their ideas,” Nelson said.

Some social functions have been added as well including brunch at the Six Mile Pub after the Royal Roads course and a social night out for the club with the highest point totals for the series.

Walker has been a participant in the GutBuster series for four years and Nelson for two. “Trail running is not your average run,” Nelson said.

The two friends and business partners have been running since childhood.

Nelson was inspired to start running at the age of seven, by his father who was a marathon runner. Within a year he was competing in trail races.

At age 10 Walker participated in the Terry Fox Run at Lochside elementary school. “It was the first time I ran, and I ran more laps than anyone else,” Walker said. His teacher was so impressed with his abilities she scouted him for the school cross country team and by age 12 he started competing in trail races.

In 2000, Tasaka created the GutBuster series to help promote adventure racing. He wanted to create a preliminary event for the Mind over Mountain adventure race.

Tasaka has not completely cut ties with GutBuster. He plans to participate in the Mt. Washington and Mt. Tzouhalem races. “It will be nice to just be a participant,” he said

This year Tasaka found himself too busy to organize the series. A new addition to the family and relocating to the Lower Mainland, where he works for the City of Surrey planning events, has taken up much of his time.

“GutBuster has been growing every year,” Tasaka said. “With (Mark and Nick) the series will live for another 10 years. They both know running and have youthful energy to take it to the next level.”

The GutBuster series kicks off at Royal Roads University on Sunday at 10 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information call Frontrunners at 391-7373 or go to www.gutbustertrailrun.com.

news@goldstreamgazette.com