Good on grape expectations
Rob Lapensee unofficially broke a Guinness World Record during the Niagara Falls International Marathon Sunday.
Lapensee ran the fastest halfmarathon dressed as a fruit, as the St. Catharines resident did so in a grape costume.
The 39-year-old completed the 21.1-kilometre run from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls in 1:19:13, beating the previous record holder, Thomas Priest from the United Kingdom, who ran a half-marathon as a banana in 1:20:37.
Lapensee began his run along the parkway, near Warwick Avenue in Fort Erie, and finished near Table Rock, in Niagara Falls. He finished fourth overall in Sunday’s halfmarathon, behind a trio from western New York.
He said dressing up as a grape gave his record attempt a “distinct Niagara flavour.”
“It was a lot harder than I thought it was (going to be). I did do some training in it … but today (facing some windy conditions), there’s a lot more wind resistance. I usually run in a tank top.”
He focused on his pace while racing.
“I had a crew with me, so we were chatting about the different things that we needed. We needed to compile some evidence to send off to Guinness for verification, so I had that in my mind. I had my family, my friends, everyone who was waiting for me at the finish line, everyone who has supported me along the way (in mind). When it started getting hard, that’s all I could think about is, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m trying to show everyone that you can make your dreams come true, I’ve got to do this.’ That’s where I found a little bit of that inner strength when the going was getting tough.”
Lapensee said part of his motivation for the record attempt was to help inspire others, especially younger children, to take on active, healthy lifestyles.
He targeted the fastest half-marathon dressed as a fruit because he recognizes fruit as a healthy food choice.
He also ran to raise awareness and pledges for Fit it Forward, the Niagara Falls International Marathon’s program that helps provide new running shoes to school-aged children who need them through Community Care, Project SHARE and Education Foundation of Niagara.
Lapensee said he also wanted to show his daughters anything is possible.
“My daughters are really into the Guinness World Record books and I thought they’d be excited to see their dad’s name listed with all the other people who have done amazing things. This is a great way for me to inspire my girls — and everyone, really — to be healthy and active, follow their hearts and live their dreams.”
Lapensee said he has participated in the Niagara Falls International Marathon before, but this was the first time he tackled the halfmarathon. “It’s one of my favourite races. It’s a great race, right here in our backyard. It’s a beautiful, scenic course.”
About 4,000 people from more than 15 countries converged on the city Sunday to compete in the annual marathon.
The event, which was voted one of the most scenic marathons in Canada by a U.S. running magazine, is one of only a few marathons that starts in one country and finishes in another.
The runners began the marathon in Buffalo, N.Y., and crossed the Peace Bridge into Canada and followed the Niagara Parkway to the brink of the Horseshoe Falls near Table Rock.
In addition to the international marathon, the event included the half-marathon, the David Gregory MacKinnon Memorial 10-kilometre run, and a five-kilometre run.
Diane Chesla, co-race director with her husband Henri Ragetlie, said participants usually talk about how “beautiful” and “pretty” the course is.
“The races that are well organized always get positive reviews,” she said.
“The experience running over the Peace Bridge is really, really cool. And one thing I know myself as a runner is that the course is great because it’s completely flat. Some courses may say they’re flat, but they have a little bump somewhere. This is completely flat, and it’s not major twists, turns, corners — it’s just slight meanders on the parkway, that’s a big advantage.”