At seven races down, seven more to go, anything could happen in the overall point races for both men and women.

On the men’s side, defending champion Colin Dignum is at the top of the list but right behind him is newcomer Abukar Mohamed with a slightly higher points-per-race average. Mohamed, a newcomer to Canada, hopes to regain the kind of speed he had in his native Somalia— something he has not been able to attain so far in this year’s races, due to interruptions in training while settling into a new country. Beyond the top two overall spots there is a wide open race for the 3rd and 4th place cash prizes, with Mark Bomba, Norm Tinkham, David Polisi, Craig Odermatt and Richard Lee all possible contenders.

The women’s rankings are currently led by Sheila Mullins, with masters athlete Jackie Holloway holding second place. Sitting in third with only three races but a high points-per-race average is rising star Alison Rendell, who continues to get faster every time she sets foot on a starting line. Below these top three are a number of women with just 2 or 3 races, so at this point it’s anyone’s guess who will end up taking the remaining cash prize—or one of the top three.

Age group early leaders include David Polisi in the 25-29 division, Rick Hickson just ahead of Richard Lee in the 40-44 grouping, Ken Bell edging ahead in the 45-49 section, Iain Fisher at the front of the 50-54 pack, Tony Amstutz heading up the 55-59’s, Herb Phillips squashing the competition among the 60-64 year-olds, and Stephen Odwin dominating his new category 65+.

Women’s leaders include Nicola Everton in the 35-39 group, Nancy Tinari injured but still leading the 40-44 division, Lilian Wong and Carly McFetridge neck and neck by point averages in the 50-54 group, Kathleen McFarland ahead of the 55-59-ers, Mary Ann Carter first among the 60-64 year-olds, and BJ McHugh topping the 65+ list, though Lenore Montgomery and Gwen McFarland could overtake her with more races under their belts.

This weekend’s Shaughnessy 8k takes the Series into the busier summer racing season, with two events per month over the next three months, followed by the final race on the Labour Day weekend.

Apr.28/02, Victoria — Two hometown athletes improved on their Sun Run results, as Lucy Smith won the women’s race and Bruce Deacon was first Canadian at the Times Colonist 10k in the province’s capital city. The weather was perfect for the 7000+ participants. Stories to follow. See www.timescolonist10k.com for results and more.

Here’s our first story to arrive, from triathlete Luke Dragsta (13th, 32:37):

“On the start line, people were surprisingly calm in the first five rows — there was no squishing or shouldering for position. One of the Kenyans, however, was five rows back so I grabbed him and set him directly in front of me. As a 5’9″, 153 lb triathlete, I felt like a real Clydesdale in their midst!

“Without much further ado the gun went off and a lead pack immediately formed up ahead, while a group of 5 triathletes plus veteran runner Keith Butler and a few others made up the second pack. At 3 km we were already testing each other, taking turns pushing the pace as we made our way down Dallas Road along the beautiful waterfront.

“As we passed the live band at about 4 km I started to play ‘air drums’ to deter my competition. I was feeling pretty good at this point so I decided to lead the chase pack for a second time. We had already dropped a number of guys and I think there were four left: myself, Butler, National Team triathlete Stefan Timms, and long distance triathlete Don King. As we reached the turnaround point, Mr. Butler reassumed the lead from me but I was tight on his heels.

“There was a slight headwind after the turnaround, so I decided to remain tucked in until we reached Cook Street and then make my ‘make it or break it’ move. I strung the group out nicely when I went but Butler was staying unnervingly close and I couldn’t shake him. I tried to focus on the guys from the first pack who were coming back to us, but I kept hearing those feet behind me and they weren’t getting any more distant.

“I really started to hurt at 9 km and was worried I’d get passed, but I pushed really hard for the last km and managed to put a little more time on Butler. I crossed the line 13th in 32:37, which was a nice little PR for me.

“It was really a perfect day for a race and there were tons of people out to watch, so I was pretty excited at the finish. A really nice booster for the upcoming races in May and June.”

Apr.21/02, Vancouver — They came. They ran. They walked. They took over the streets of Vancouver. Over 42,000 participants joined the 2002 Vancouver Sun Run 10k, featuring a brand new route this year.

Detailed reports and results will be published in the April 22nd edition of the Vancouver Sun newspaper. Like last year, rather than making an attempt at something similar here, I thought it would be more interesting to collect personal stories from Series participants. Here is the first, submitted in record time by master Jackie Holloway of Vancouver (37:24):

“I’ve had some really good Sun Runs and I’ve had some really bad ones. My Sun Run batting average was .500 (4 attempts, 2 finishes) until today. My personal best 10k was at the Sun Run in 1992. Ten years ago…wow!

“While it seems tragic that the course no longer goes through Stanley Park, I think this course is faster. Maybe it was just me, but I don’t think so. Other people echoed that belief after the race, including Darcie Montgomery who ran her personal best 10K today!!! The hill from Lumberman’s Arch which connected to the long climb up Pipeline Road in Stanley Park on the old course was a bit of a silent killer, I think. The hills in this course are either short and sharp; under Granville Bridge (on both sides!!!) and up the Cambie Bridge access or the more gentle Burrard Bridge climb.

“I had fun running today…my aim was to negative split. I didn’t quite, though. On my watch, I ran 18:42 for the first 5K and 18:44 for the second. Close enough for me!!! And I ran my “granny” personal best. What more can a somewhat long in the tooth Sun Runner ask for???”

Thanks Jackie for the great report. Okay, all you other Series Sun Runners out there — let’s hear your version of this race!

April 25 — Okay, we have some responses to the above call for stories. Here are three more reports (thanks!):

Colin Dignum (17th overall, 30:38):

“My race went well. I wanted to break 31 minutes and did that. I tried to go out relaxed and was 5:50 at 2 km which was fine. The lead group of 15 or so was gone by Denman Street and I found myself at the back of the second large group (the locals). I sat in there and we picked up stragglers dropping back from the front. I worked fairly hard up the Granville Street hill and over the Burrard Bridge and then settled back behind Utting and Warick. They took turns surging and at 8km I looked at my watch and went for it. Warick passed me going over the Cambie Bridge, but we both caught a couple of guys in the last km. Overall it was a pleasing effort.

“Although I won a bunch of races last year my fastest time all year for 10km was only 31:52, so it was nice to run reasonably fast again. I had thought the course was going to be slower, but now I am not so sure.”

Michael Ross (114th overall, 36:00):

“After a previous year of hard training and personal success, I experienced a ‘slump’ in both attitude and performance in March and April. Having enjoyed the old Sun Run a few times, and hearing about the ChampionChip timing, the new route and the Wave Start, I decided to throw myself into the ring for 2002. I am very glad I did.

“Every second of the pre-race hour was thrilling for me. I found a great wall to do my hamstring, glut and quad stretches on, tucked just around the corner from the entrance to the ‘Yellow Zone’. I popped in through the yellow gate just minutes before they closed it, so as not to experience being a hamster in a wheel as in previous years, going round and round and round inside to keep warm. The old shirt I wore was perfect for keeping me toasty warm until seconds before the start.

The actual race was full of moments of strategy, tests of stamina, and I pulled off a wonderful (for me) sprint to the finish, ensuring that I was close to fainting and aching from deep inside my gut, a feeling I cherish at the end of a race in some twisted runner’s way. To boot, I managed 36:00, not one hundredth of a second over or under!

“Now, if only I wasn’t the 101st fastest male runner. Missing that list by one second and one runner was just a bit of a tweak! Never mind, there’s always a next year.

“Highly recommended race for getting you out of any slump you may be in!”

Nancy Tinari (10th female, 1st female master, 35:49):

“I don’t want to say much about my Sun Run because I’m very unfit, still struggling with my heel injury, and it was painful to be beaten by people who I can normally beat. However, given my limited training I actually ran faster than I expected and I guess it’s due to the course. I liked the new course, especially the finish. It was great for dramatic finishes.

“Today my muscle soreness is finally almost gone. However, I was happy that my injury wasn’t too bad after the race and I’m hoping to be able to run again at the Times-Colonist.”

For race results see the April 22 Vancouver Sun or the race website www.sunrun.com. Overall winners were James Koskei of Kenya in 27:58 and Sara Dillabough of Ottawa in 33:17. Top BC finishers were as follows. Men: 5-Sean Kaley, 8-Bruce Deacon, 10-Greg Bennett, 11-Jim Finlayson, 12-Mark Bomba, 13-Abukar Mohamed, 14-Steve Osaduik, 17-Colin Dignum, 18-Scott McClennan, 19-Randy Moody. Women: 2-Lucy Smith, 3-Carolyn Murray, 4-Alison Rendell, 5-Shelley Smathers, 6-Karen Tulloch, 7-Barbora Brych, 8-Linda Huyck, 9-Janine Moffett, 10-Nancy Tinari, 11-Sheila Mullins.

Apr.06/02, North Vancouver — This time it was Vancouver’s North Shore instead of Kamloops, but Mark Bomba of New Westminster made it two in a row by winning today’s North Shore 5k, race #5 of the Timex-Asics BC Road Running Series.

Bomba bested a field which included NetNation 5k winner Abukar Mohamed and First Half 1/2 Marathon champion Colin Dignum, both Vancouverites who placed second and third in this 5k, respectively. On the women’s side, Vancouver’s Alison Rendell continued her winning ways with a victory over 1500m track specialist Cindy O’Krane of West Vancouver. The 5k event with 202 finishers was hosted by Vancouver Falcons Athletic Club (VFAC), run concurrently with the “Second Half” 1/2 Marathon on the Seymour Demonstration Forest paved roadways.

Bomba described the race as tactical, feeling that the pace was somewhat slow for most of the distance. Vancouver’s Shane Bilodeau led the first mile in about 4:50, staying out in front until the 2 km mark. At this point Dignum, who commented that “it was one of the most competitive Series races I have been in for the past few years”, shouldered the lead for another kilometre, after which “the big guns took over”. Bomba and Mohamed, along with UBC’s Byron Wood, moved past, leaving Dignum and under-20 competitor Chris Winter of North Vancouver about 5 metres off the pace. For the remainder of the race Dignum was working hard to pull himself and Winter back up to the leaders, while Bilodeau fell back.

Meanwhile, Bomba was throwing in a few surges to try to shake off Mohamed. The former Somalian was able to respond to the increases in pace, until about 600m from the finish line where the New Westminster runner cranked it up some more and opened up a three second gap before crossing the line first in 14:57. Like Mohamed, Bomba is aiming for a top finish in the upcoming Vancouver Sun Run, the next event in the Series.

Eventually Dignum was able to slip past Wood into third position where he remained to the finish (15:03). Winter held on to 5th place with an excellent 15:12 behind Wood’s 15:06.

Women’s winner Rendell was pleased with her race, which happened to be her second 5k ever. She stuck close behind O’Krane for 3 km before making her move, after which she gradually pulled away to finish in 16:53. After the race O’Krane (17:16) resolved to do more longer training runs to make that “1 mile to go” mark seem less discouraging. Half a minute back, Kamloops 10k winner Sheila Mullins managed to fend off another Vancouver resident Cari Kuzyk (nee Rampersad) for third female overall in 17:42.

First master to cross the line was North Vancouver’s Rob Lonergan in 15:36, followed by Richard Lee of Port Coquitlam in 15:53. Rick Hickson of Langley stayed ten seconds ahead of Vancouver’s Art Boileau to steal third masters honours in 16:27. Another close race among masters, this time in the 60-64 age grouping, occurred between Ali Hamami of Vancouver and Herb Phillips of Burnaby, with Hamami’s 18:42 beating Phillips by just four seconds to win that category.

The women masters were led by Jackie Holloway of Vancouver in 18:39, well ahead of Burnaby’s Lori Spence (19:12) and Vancouver’s Adele Wilson (19:24). First Junior woman over the out-and-back course was Amanda Hall of Langley in 20:41.

Results at Race Headquarters.