A CHILLY RUN
11,000 MAKE THE TREK
Runners braved sub-zero temperatures Sunday morning to take on the 122nd edition of Around the Bay. More than 11,000 people hit the pavement in the 30-kilometre and five-kilometre races, despite the chill. Above, the crowd is tight during the start of the 30K. For more on Around the Bay, including photos, and thespec.com.
The 122nd edition of the Around the Bay race took place Sunday with more than 11,000 runners braving sub-zero temperatures, but enjoying sunny skies and clear roads.
Here are nine people and their stories from the run.
1. Aleta Thompson is a 68year-old who runs two or three times a week “with a bunch of girls” in Caledonia. She finished the 5 km in 50:35 and immediately posted her workout to her Facebook page so friends and family could see.
“Eight years ago I had breast cancer and since then I’ve done this race every year,” she said. “I started running to prove to myself that I’m still alive. Every day is blessing to me.”
2. Paul Kimugul ran the 30 km race in 1:35:16, winning for the third time in his career. But the 36year-old native of Kenya didn’t particularly enjoy the conditions, with temperatures hovering below zero and a stiff breeze.
“The course was nice, but it was really cold and that makes it difficult,” he said. “When it’s this cold I usually get a stitch when I drink, so I did the entire race without any water. I was thirsty was when I was done.”
3. Larry Laswell Jr. is a Hamilton firefighter who ran the 5 km in a full gear, including a helmet and respirator. But he had a good reason.
“It was challenging ... it’s running in an oven mitt with three layers of protection, so it’s really hot,” he said. “First responders are more than twice as likely to suffer from PTSD, so I’m raising money and trying to raise awareness for people who are suffering. I’m trying to remove the stigma.”
4. Victoria Coates is a former McMaster runner who won the women’s 5 km with a time of 17:08. She said she used the crowd — and other women doing the race — as inspiration.
“It’s fun to win and it’s really fun to be the first female, because you get so much support,” she said. “It’s an outand-back course, so you get to see some of some of the walkers at the back of the race and they are excited to see a woman out front.”
5. Premier Kathleen Wynne ran the 5 km in a time of 28:40, placing her second in the women’s 60 to 64 age category. It’s the second consecutive year she’s run Around the Bay.
“I love it. Yes, it’s raising money for St. Joe’s, but to have 11,000 people running together doing this healthy thing on a Sunday morning, I just love the feeling of it,” she said. “In a race like this, for some of the people at the front it’s about their time, but for most of us, it’s about a personal time, it’s about getting to the finish line.”
6. Mathilda Machado-Gardiner was at the finish handing out medals to 30 km runners as they crossed the line. She’s run the race five times herself, but gets a different sort of satisfaction from volunteering.
“It’s a lot of fun. People are so happy, they want you to put the medal on them, they want you to give them a hug,” she said. “It means a lot to them and you can see the emotion. It’s wonderful.”
7. Anna Lewis was in her first year as race director and says everything seems to have gone off without a hitch. The biggest surprise was the success of free kids’ races on the Saturday, a new addition that saw hundreds of children sprint 50 yards across the finish line and receive a medal.
“We want to encourage the next generation to take up the sport,” she said. “To see their faces as they crossed finish line was an inspiration.”
8. Krista Duchene finished second among the women in the 30 km race, falling short of the time needed to prove her fitness for the Olympic marathon (she’s already run the Canadian qualifying standard, but needs to show she’s still in shape.)
“I wanted a personal best, I wanted to make the time and I wanted the win. I didn’t get any of those and it stinks. It seems like there is more pressure on me to prove my fitness than to make the Olympic standard,” she said. “My family was here and I didn’t know they were coming, so that was a nice surprise. I really wanted the win, especially for them. Now they are saying ‘are you still going to the Olympics, Mommy?’ because they’re worried it might not happen. But you have to learn to live with disappointment. And it’s gonna happen.”
9. Mary Keating pumped her fist and screamed with joy as she finished her 30 km race in 2:59:27, beating her goal of three hours.
“I am so happy I could cry. Everything clicked and it was just a great run. The weather held up, my legs felt great, everyone was so supportive. It was awesome,” she said. “I love this race. It’s a good distance and it’s a physical and mental challenge — it feels great to overcome it. I might go have a beer to celebrate.”
Notes: Risper Gesabwa won the women’s 30 km race with a time of 1:47:37, while Josh Bolton won the men’s 5 km in 15:03 . ... Fundraising for the St. Joe’s hospital foundation is about $50,000 short of its $480,000 goal, but donations will be accepted until the end of the week.