Lovig wins Fresh Air Woman’s Run
The annual Fresh Air Woman’s 10K/ 5K run/walk was held at the Parkinson Recreation Center on June 11. This was a change of location for the run as the usual location, City Park, was unavailable due to the flooding.
Kelowna’s Christy Lovig (40-49) led all the women in the 10K with a very quick time of 34:28. Kelowna’s Jane Jones (40-49) took second place in 42:55 with Kelowna’s Cindy Rhodes (60-69) third in 43:10.
Other age class winners included Krystal Schneider (20-29, Kelowna), Louise Lozie (3039, Kelowna) and Janice Bradshaw (50-59, W.Kelowna). Janice, who has been racing almost every week this spring, set a new 10K PB (personal best time) of 49:46!
In the 5K distance, West Kelowna’s Emanuela Bandol (30-39) was first overall followed by Bryana Van Leeuwen (20-29, Kelowna) and Leslie Gamble (50-59, Kelowna). Other age class winners were Crissy Rea (40-49, Kelowna), Astrid Varga (6069, Kelowna) and Pam Shaw (70+, Kelowna).
I understand that the accompanying Strong Kids Race was a success. Organizer Cindy Rhodes sent me this: “The 6 and under ran 500 metres out and 500 metres back, 7 & 8 were 1 km out and 1 km back, 9-12 were suppose to do a 1.5 km out and 1.5 km back but they were a bit short due to rabbit turning too soon. Don’t think the kids knew that, they think they ran REALLY fast. Every finisher received a Fresh Air Experience medal as well as a cool ‘fidget’ spinner (the latest rave amongst the kids nowadays). Once again, the 6 and under were the largest group.”
A couple of years ago I wrote about the “Five Amazing Women from Kelowna” — these five ladies ran the Boston and Big Sur marathons with only six days between the two races! They are still going strong!
On June 4, four of the five amazing women — Becky Williams (4th 55-59), Sandra Wike (4th 60-64), , Charlotte Heidt (5th 60-64), and Liz Borrett — ran the North Olympic Marathon in Port Angeles Washington. They were joined by Kelowna runners Leslie Gamble (2nd 50-54), Brenda Dickson (6th 55-59), Camille De Montreuil (6th 60-64), Diana Eacrett (5th 60-69) and Ron Chen.
Liz Borrett, recovering from a leg injury, ran the half-marathon distance, winning the F75+ age group, What an incredible bunch of senior women! Kelowna’s Ron Chen also ran the half-marathon.
Conquer The Lake is a new race that took place on June 11. The main event is a HalfMarathon, but the race also offers 10K, 5K, and 2.5K distances.
In the Half-Marathon Kelowna runners dominated with Paige Howes (20-29) taking first place in 1:35. She was followed by Louise Richardson and Stephanie Courcelles who took 1st and 2nd in the 50-59 year age class. They gave it their all and finished with only five seconds between them.
Linda Abbott-Simons won the 60-69 class, with Sandra Wike taking second.
Liz Borrett, our unbeatable 78-year-old, won the 70-79 age class.
Kelowna’s Zach Jackman (20-29) won the men’s race in 1:21, Arno Compas (40-49, Lake Country) placed second in 1:30, and Oliver Richardson (under 20, Kelowna) came in third in 1:42.
Results of all the distances can be found at www.conquerthelakerace.ca. This race may be included in the Canadian Tire Road Race Series next year.
Kelowna cyclist Dan Crocket rode Daves Ride on Sunday. This tough 166-kilometre ride goes from Kelowna to Armstrong. It takes the Westside Road on the way to Vernon and returns via Commanage Road.
There are a lot of tough hills on this ride and Dan, in his 60s handled them easily, climbing 2,500 metres during the ride and averaging better than 25 KPH!
Shanda Hill, the extraordinary ultraathlete from Vernon had a great ride of her own last week.
Shanda trains very little on the bike, in fact it was only her third ride of the year, but she, accompanied by her dad and a friend, rode from Vernon to Nakusp — 207 kilometres with close to 4,000 metres of climbing.
We’ll be following her races this year, especially when she attempts the 10 times Ironman distance race in Switzerland. Her dad is pretty impressive too! First ride of the year and 207 clicks! Wow!
Well known Kelowna track runner and cancer physician Delilah Topic is giving back to her sport, as she explains “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce the inaugural ‘Delilah Topic Toronto Track & Field Bursary for Female Student Athletes.’ This bursary will provide funding for a Toronto Track and Field membership for one year, plus a stipend for shoes/spikes/gear. It is intended for a female student athlete (grades 7-12) that specializes in middle-long distance events, that has a very strong work ethic, and who has academic goals beyond track and field. Applications will go live June 17 (today), and will close August 4. I’m so happy to be able to give back to my alma mater, and to the sport that has given me so much.”
There are several major cycling events coming up in the next couple of months. I am planning to participate in the MEC Century ride on June 25, (events.mec.ca), the Axel Merckx Prospero Gran Fondo on July 9, the Big White Race on July 23, and the Salmon Arm Century on Sept. 16.
The Kelowna Running Club is holding the annual Commando Bay Run on June 24. This run starts near the end of Lakeshore Road and follows the Wild Horse Canyon trail to Commando Bay and back. More information is available on the KRC Facebook page.
The next race in the Canadian Tire Road Race Series is the Fresh Air Midsummer 8K on Sunday, July 2.
This race is one of the most popular events in the series as it is held on a flat, fast course that offers opportunities for pesonal-best times.
This year, the race is doing something new, offering money to the top three male and female runners — $200 for first, $100 for second and $50 for third! That should bring out all the big guns!
The second race in the Strong Kids Series will be held immediately after the 8K.