Archive for February, 2009

Perfect, windless weather, a great course and race, and of course some dogged improvised training (or needed extra rest??) during the winter’s record snows, led to a great VFAC presence at Sunday’s First Half 1/2 Marathon. We had 30 participants, 9 PB’s, 2 men and 4 women in the top 10 overall, 7 age group top 3’s, and another VFAC Master Men’s Record by Kevin O’Connor (breaking Brian Bjornson’s 1996 1:13:33!) . Not too bad for the ‘first’ half of the year! Highlights follow:

Jay Macdonald 1:10:38 PB, 8th overall, 2nd 30-34
Paul Krochak 1:10:48 PB, 9th overall, 3rd 30-34
Kevin O’Connor 1:13:10, VFAC Masters Men’s Record
Phil Dickens 1:14:13 PB
Simon Driver 1:14:15, just ahead of Phil gun time
Mark Bennett 1:16:06 PB
Dave Stephens 1:16:17
Ben Maas 1:17:38
Kristina Rody 1:18:55 PB, 3rd overall woman, 1st F30-34
John Atkinson 1:20:44 PB
Jo Astoria 1:20:58
Katherine Moore 1:22:56 PB, 7th overall woman, 2nd F30-34
Rita Ivanauskas 1:22:59, 8th overall woman, 2nd F45-49
Anne-Marie Madden 1:24:43, 10th overall woman, 1st F25-29
Laura De Munain 1:27:27
Helen Ritchie 1:27:41, 3rd F40-44
Rory Carr 1:27:56 PB
Ryan Allderman 1:29:04
Rebecca Reid 1:29:15
Sophie Dansereau 1:33:37
Kim Jow 1:34:14
Mirabelle Tinio 1:34:07
Rhys Howard 1:35:35
Vicki Mann 1:49:33, 1st race in 10 months

Conditions were also conducive to a new record for earliest outdoor post race imbibing (or for collective foolhardiness?). For all those ex-Brits and others ‘from away’, it’s a Vancouver thing!

Excellent results from all VFACer’s who ran Sunday at the Icebreaker 8km in Steveston. I quickly scanned for results and almost everyone ran quicker than last week’s Club 8Km. Two new VFAC records were set.
Jay MacDonald with a 25:13 PB broke Brian Bjornson’s Open record of 25:16 which has stood since 1988! He also finished 3rd overall.
Rita Ivanauskas with a 29:39 PB broke her own Master Woman’s record of 29:41 set just last week and finished 4th overall woman.
(editor’s note: all four VFAC 8km records have already been broken in 2009!)
Also competing were:
Paul Krochak 25:50 (great season debut for 4th overall)
Phil Oreopoulos 27:08 (last week 27:10, 1st M35-39)
Ellie Greenwood 29:20 PB (2nd overall female)
John Atkinson 29:26 (despite racing in a snowshoe event Sat)
Chris Brandt 29:41 (30:07 last week)
Jo Astoria 29:52 (30:38 last week)
Katherine Moore 30:11 PB (30:56 last week, 2nd W30-34)
Rory Carr 30:21 PB (2nd M45-49)
Anne-Marie Madden 30:22 (30:30 last week, 2nd W25-29)
Nancy Fedoruk 31:32 (last week 31:53)
Rebecca Reid 33:23 (3rd W40-44)
Rhys Howard 34:47 (last week 34:50)
Bonnie Kramer 35:41 (last week 36:12, 3rd W35-39)
Sabrina Wong 38:15 (last week 38:14)

Good job all!