Thousands brave cold for Sun Run
59,179 people registered for this year's run, shattering previous
records
(FULL
STORY and top results here)
Allison Cross and Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Sunday, April 20, 2008
VANCOUVER - A record number of athletes -- upwards of 59,000 -- braved
chilly temperatures Sunday morning to run, walk or ride in the 24th annual
Vancouver Sun Run.
Prior to the race, participants gathered on Georgia Street, clutching
cups of coffee, rubbing their hands together and stretching to stay warm
as the temperature hovered around 3 C, one of the chilliest temperatures
in Sun Run history.
The fastest runner completed the 10 kilometres in 29 minutes and 26
seconds, but for most it was more about recreation than competition.
Thousands of participants gather beneath the colourful balloon arches at
the start of the 2008 Sun Run on Sunday. The event may have been one of
the coldest in the run's 24-year history, but that didn't stop a record
crowd of more than 59,000 from taking part.
Shortly after most had begun running, the wheelchair athletes were
already cruising over the Cambie Bridge towards BC Place Stadium.
Scott Patterson of Vancouver was the first over the finish line,
followed seconds later by Kelowna's Paul Clark.
Minutes later, came the top male runners, then the elite women.
Those who'd been racing neck and neck took time to shake hands and
congratulate each other. Then came all the rest, sweating and high-fiving
and doubling over in droves.
After turning in their timing chips, thousands of runners stretched out
on the grass or filed into BC Place to enjoy the live music, the
mini-bagels and the awards ceremony. Kenya's Festus Langat was the first
to reach the end, with an official time of 29 minutes, 26 seconds, easily
beating second-place finisher Philiph Keoch, also of Kenya, at 29:36.
Third-place finisher, White Rock's Ryan Hayden, claimed the spot of top
Canadian male, with a time of 29:38.
Langat keeps alive the tradition of African winners of the Sun Run. In
the last 10 years, Michael Power of Australia has been the only
non-African champion, winning in 2005.
The first woman to cross the finish line was Genet Gebregiorgis of
Ethiopia, with a time of 33 minutes, 35 seconds. Calgary's Lisa Harvey was
second, crossing the finish line at 33:58, and earning the title of top
Canadian female. Kirsty Smith of Victoria, came in third place with a time
of 34:12.
FULL
STORY here.
Also see:
Kenyan
keeps alive an African winning tradition
A
rest from racing may have helped top woman
Top
2008 "First Half" Half
Marathon Race Preview
The 20th Anniversary "First Half" Half Marathon on February
10th will see the return of many former race champions, including both
defending champions and some of Canada's best distance running talent, and
also promises outstanding competition in many of the age groups. A topic
of much debate is often which age group performance is the best overall,
and the race will try to settle that argument through the presentation of
age-graded awards in addition to the regular age group and overall awards
courtesy of New Balance and Forerunners.
Last year Richmond's Ryan Hayden made his half marathon debut at the
"First Half" and demonstrated his potential at longer distances
by running an event record 1:04:44.7. That time held up as the second best
in Canada last year, and Ryan returns with hopes of further improving the
record, and claiming the prize money on offer from Mr. Downtown - David
Crawford, as he prepares for his marathon debut, possibly later this year.
Also returning is 2006 champion, and twice Royal Victoria Marathon
winner, Steve Osaduik. Having recently relocated from Vancouver Island to
the Lower Mainland, Steve will be looking for a confidence booster as he
prepares for the National Marathon Championship in Ottawa in May.
Charles Bedley adds an Ontario mix to the field this year. Charles was
Canada's quickest marathoner in 2007, running 2:16:26 in Sacramento in
December, as well as winning the Toronto Marathon earlier in the year.
Representing Alberta, Nathan Kendrick is another emerging Canadian
distance runner. So too are Ken Myers, winner of the Calgary Marathon, and
Darcy Bell.
Another returning elite runner, and recent transplant to the Lower
Mainland, is Jason Loutitt, a top Canadian mountain runner who finished
second to Osaduik in 2006.
Oliver Utting, Craig Odermatt, Derek Vinge, Ian Druce and Will Stewart
are others predicted to challenge for top-10 places.
Also expected to be mixing it with the younger runners is leading
master Bruce Deacon, a three-time former winner of the "First
Half", former event record holder and overall winner of last fall's
Royal Victoria Half Marathon. The masters' event record of 1:12:00 is well
within his capabilities.
Norman Tinkham, twice a former winner, Anthony Skuce, Richard Lee, and
Kevin O'Connor contest the other top masters placings.
An intriguing contest is in prospect in the M50-54 division. Art
Boileau, three times former overall winner and Boston Marathon runner-up,
will face-off against Dick Beardsley, also a Boston Marathon runner-up.
But several other fifty-plus year olds will ensure it's not just a two-man
race, including Guy Smith who has slowed little since first winning the
masters division 10 years ago.
Further up the age groups, Jack Miller and Jim Swadling will ensure a
close contest in the M60-64 division, with multiple age-best record holder
Herb Phillips (M65-69) expected to be right with them.
The women's race presents an equally stellar field, lead by defending
champion Lisa Harvey from Calgary. Consistency might be Lisa's middle
name, as she has won four-times and finished second three-times over the
last 8 years.
Tina Connelly from Port Coquitlam set the event record of 1:12:47 in
2004, and won again in 2006. She'll be back this year looking for a third
win.
Two other formers winners are now in the masters' age group, but that
won't stop them from challenging for the overall win. Coquitlam's Leah
Pells set the current masters record when winning in 2005, and Victoria's
Lucy Smith won the Royal Victoria Half Marathon outright last fall.
Another Calgarian, Lindsay McLaren has been a podium finisher (3rd and
2nd) the last two years, and will be looking to go one better this year.
So too will Jessica Hannah last years third placer from Vernon.
Also not to be ruled out are Marilyn Arsenault and Kirsty Smith from
Victoria, and Kristina Rody from Whistler, all making their first
appearance at the "First Half".
At the other end of the spectrum, perennial age group winner, and world
age group record holder, BJ McHugh of North Vancouver turned 80 last
November. Watch for BJ to finish in something close to 2 hours, showing
many younger runners a clean pair of heels, and making her one of the
favourites to record the best age graded result.
The "First Half" Half Marathon is organized by the Pacific
Road Runners with support from New Balance, and is the second race in the
2008 Timex BC Road Running Series. Proceeds from the event benefit Variety
- the Children's Charity, with $40,000 donated in 2007. The race starts at
8:30am on Sunday, February 10, from the Roundhouse Community Centre in
downtown Vancouver. The course takes the runners around BC Place Stadium
and on a loop of Stanley Park. The event sold out in just over 5 hours
when entries opened last October.
For additional information, visit the event website at www.pacificroadrunners.ca/firsthalf.
Top
Individual
Race Results 2008
- Summerfast
10k, July 19/08
- Kelowna
Midsummer 8km, July 6/08
- Longest
Day 5k, June 13/08
- Sandcastle
City Classic 10k, June 8/08
- Running
Room Shaughnessy 8k, May 25/08
- Phoenix
Mother's Day 5k Spring Classic, May 11/08
- Times
Colonist 10k, April 27/08
- Vancouver Sun Run
10k, April 20/08
- Spring
Classic 5k, March 29/08
- The River's
Spring Run-Off 10k, March 16/08
- "First
Half" Half Marathon, February 10/08
- Steveston Ice-Breaker
8k, January 27/08
Top
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