Running the Ridge, Running away with the $

In seriously pleasant race conditions Sunday, a few VFAC’ers took on the elite (as races with ~$6000 prize money tend to bring on) at the new Run the Ridge 10K in Maple Ridge. And a sizable chunk of the lolly went to VFAC’ers……not to mention $100 worth of botox treatment won as a draw prize by none other than Simon Driver (we couldn’t think of a more deserving winner ;)) The race started and finished at the new town plaza in Haney near the H2H start, and descended, went flat, and ascended again very similarly to Stage 1 of the relay. It was another Steve Osaduik showing, but this time he was outgunned by 8 seconds by Richard Mosley’s 30:31. Philip Rist picked up $200 in finishing 4th in 31:49, while Simon Driver ran a solid 32:54 to finish only one spot out of the money in 6th. Rod Urquhart started his season with a good 38:20. But it was the women who really stole the show….and the money. Katrina Driver ran smartly for her second PB in 2 weeks, with a 36:25 for 3rd place and $300, close behind winner Suzanne Evans (36:09) and Tina Connelly. Not to be outdone, Rita Ivanauskas also picked up $300 as 3rd female master in 38:42. Meanwhile on the other side of town, in the Run Innsane 10K trail race in Pacific Spirit Park, new member/trail running ace Silas Wiefelspuett (35:03), Sparky Wickstead (35:34), ditto new member/trail running ace Chris Downie (35:37), and Matt Fedoruk (35:43) finished 4th through 7th, behind Colin Dignum’s winning 33:03. Scott McMillan returned to racing after several injury prone months placing 29th with a solid 40:57, new member Julia Gerlitz placed 57th in 46:07, while Kathleen Negraeff, returning rapidly to form after having her and Mike’s second child, placed 65th in 47:43 out of a race record 165 finishers. Last, but not least, Graeme Wilson, seeking out the rain to which he’s become accustomed, ventured south to Seattle to get just that in abundance….but still ran a PB of 1:10:52 to place 6th (behind several time VIM winner Uli Steidl’s 1:06:14) in the very hilly Mercer Island Half Marathon, and in his training flats no less. On to another multiple race weekend…. and no doubt more impressive results next week in our own Spring Classic 5k and the Fool’s Run Half Marathon from Gibson’s To Sechelt.

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