By: Tim Huebsch

Vancouver - For the third consecutive year, Vancouver will play host to the Canadian Cross Country Championships November 30 at Jericho Beach. The defending team champions, Point Grey Track and Field Club, will be gunning for their second championships in as many years with the addition of a number of athletes to the team. First and foremost, the team has added Dylan Wykes, originally from Kingston, Ontario who trains in Vancouver, BC under the tutelage of coach Richard Lee.

Wykes needs little introduction as a well-known figure on the Canadian running scene, having represented Canada at a number of a international competitions including the 2007 World Cross Country Championships, the 2008 and 2009 NACAC Cross Country Championships, and most recently, the 2012 London Olympics.

November will mark the first time since ‘09 that Wykes has thrown down on the cross-country course, as the marathon has been his primary focus, highlighted by a 20th place finish in London in addition to becoming Canada’s second fastest marathoner to date. The choice to run was an easy one, however, as Jericho is one’s best bet to catch a glimpse of Wykes doing a workout or out for an easy ten.

“I do live about 500m from the course and since I run there nearly everyday, it seemed like a good idea when I committed to doing it,” added Dylan. “Cross country is a great sport and I think it'll be a fun day plus it's good to support running events in the local community whenever possible.”

Wykes has split his time between Ottawa and Vancouver for the better part of the past year battling both the Ontario winters and summer humidity. While in Ottawa, the marathoner took advantage of Gatineau Park and the endless gravel trails along the Ottawa River Parkways.

While in Vancouver, easy runs in Pacific Spirit Park and tempo runs on the Palmer Loop in Stanley Park are among Wykes’ go-to favorites. UBC, home to the Rashpal Dhillon Track and Field facility, one of the premier facilities in the lower mainland, plays host to much of Wykes’ track workouts along with the rest of the Point Grey squad. 

After succumbing to injury earlier this year, Wykes has regained form this fall winning the Vancouver eastside 10km, placing 4th at the Canadian 10km Championships, and taking 3rd at the San Jose half-mary.

“Training has been a bit up and down the past few weeks,” said Wykes, who is coming off a difficult race in Portsmouth, England at the Great South Run. “This sport is getting more and more difficult the older I get! But hopefully I'll pull my socks up for the race in Japan.”

Dylan is off to Japan where he’ll represent Canada in the Chiba International Ekiden, a road race consisting of six-legs that covers the marathon distance of 42.2 km, on November 23.

Since a mere six days separate travel-time to the Canadian Cross Country Championships November 30, following the Chiba-Ekiden, Wykes plans to beat the jet lag with a few gravol, a glass of red wine, some ear plugs, and an eye mask, in hopes of catching some shut-eye for a few hours. “If that fails,” adds Wykes, “I’ll be sure to have a good book for entertainment.”

Newcomers to Point Grey at the upcoming Canadian Champs, in addition to Wykes, include Rob Watson and Kelly Wiebe, both of whom have made the transition in making Vancouver their home base.

“The group forming here in Vancouver, called the BC Endurance Project and funded by BC Athletics, is definitely both refreshing and exciting for me and others as well as the sport in general in Canada,” added Wykes when asked about the recent influx of elite athletes making the move to Vancouver.

“I've done a lot of training on my own over the years and am looking forward to the group setting. I think the more guys and gals we get working together here in Vancouver the better off we will all be. Kudos to Brian McCalder at BC Athletics for spearheading the project and of course Richard Lee for his coaching expertise.”

What’s another added incentive for Wykes to hit the cross-country course this fall?
“I wanted to give the young bucks Luc [Bruchet] and Kelly a chance to kick my butt!” joked Wykes. Whether or not that will come to fruition will be determined in a few weeks time when Canada’s best toe the line at Jericho Park.

The race will conclude Wykes’ fall season, but look for him to be back on the roads in early winter as he hopes to tackle a few half-marathons with a spring marathon perhaps in the cards.

Toss Dylan a follow on the twitter-sphere @DylanWykes or check out his blog here