Tri-City trail enthusiasts can catch an inspirational flick, enjoy some food and local craft beer, and help raise money for Coquitlam Search and Rescue on Jan. 30.
Coquitlam resident and Vancouver firefighter Jenn Dawkins, along with friend and fellow trail runner Darcel Moro and Coquitlam SAR volunteer Steve Chapman, are organizing the screening of Run Free: The True Story of Caballo Blanco, a film about ultra marathoner Micah True — known as Caballo Blanco, or the White Horse — at the Port Moody Inlet Theatre.
"The documentary came out in October and it was screened in Whistler and Squamish, which is clearly too far to go and see it," Dawkins said. "But we have a pretty strong trail running community here so I thought an opportunity to see it closer to home would be of interest, and it's almost sold out."
The film explores the life of American running legend True and his efforts to create an ultra marathon in Mexico's Copper Cannon to preserve the Tarahumara running tradition. It's based on a bestselling book about True called A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, written by Christopher McDougall.
Dawkins, an avid trail runner who has completed the 50-km Diez Vistas race six times and was a volunteer with Ridge Meadows SAR, knew the film would be enough of a draw for likeminded trail buffs but wanted to add a social component. She teamed up with Moro, a runner, triathlete and event planner, and they brought in Moody Ales for the pre-film reception (they expect to have a couple of food trucks on hand as well, including K and J Food Truck's Austrian wiener schnitzel and Big Reds Poutine). At the time, Moro was helping to organize the Port Moody Safety Fair and suggested the Run Free event could be a fundraiser for Coquitlam SAR.
"So many times when I'm out on the trails, I hear people say, 'I've never had to use them but if I did, it's sure nice to know somebody is there to help me,'" Moro said. "I've been out on the trails a lot and even with others, it's so easy to miss a turn."
Coquitlam SAR volunteers will have a display set up, as will the Runner's Den and Chapman's Map Maker company. There are only a few tickets left for the film but Moro said everyone is welcome to join the fun before the movie starts to check out the displays and have a pint.
• Run Free is on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m.; the film runs 8 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available through www.eventbrite.ca.
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