Archive for March, 2009

I’m trying my level best to keep up with the sheer quantity of quality performances recently, and not doing such a good job! Well, better late than never, following are the numerous highlights since my last report only 2 weeks ago.

On Sunday, in the Timex Series Comox 1/2 Marathon, Helen Ritchie ran 1:26:25, her fastest time in over 15 years, to place 5th female overall and 1st 40-44.

On Saturday, in the prestigious ultra trail race, the Chuckanut 50K, south of Bellingham, Ellie Greenwood again prevailed as 1st female by over 8 minutes in 4:34:23, while Mike Palichuk, determined to not be overtaken nor overshadowed, was 44 seconds ahead of her in 4:33:39, while winning the master mens division.

A week ago Saturday, in the St Patrick’s Day 5K in Stanley Park, Kristina Rody set yet another VFAC womens record, while Rita Ivanauskas tied her own VFAC masters womens record! There were 26 VFACers amongst the 792 finishers, including:
Jay MacDonald 15:26, 7th overall
Kevin O’Connor 16:11, 1st overall master
Ynuk Bosse 16:12
Phil Dickens 16:24 PB
Ben Maas 16:51
Mike Wood 16:52 PB
Kristina Rody 17:07, road PB, 2nd overall female ($100), 5:21.7 1st female Power Mile ($50)
Mark Bennett 17:13, 5th overall master
Anne-Marie Madden 17:41, 3rd overall female ($75)
Ellie Greenwood 17:43 PB, 4th overall female
Rita Ivanauskas 18:11 =PB, 1st overall master female, 7th overall female
Katherine Moore 19:07 PB, 10th overall female
Nancy Fedoruk 19:11
Helen Ritchie 19:28, 3rd overall master female
Rebecca Reid 19:51, 4th overall master female
Janette Purdham 20:08 PB, 6th overall master female
Sharon Emslie 22:35, 9th overall master female
Sabrina Wong 23:31

There, I’m now in extreme oxygen debt and will have to work the exhale…but at least (at last) I’m caught up!

VFAC again easily won the team title at Sunday’s Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8K, with Kristina Rody beating her own best and club record in 28:20! Congrats to Jay, Kristina, John, Chris B, Rita, Katherine, Marty, Laura, Janette, Mary, and Rhys for snagging the 10 opportunities to try to get something for $100 at Harry Rosen’s (probably more difficult than their races). In the previous Sunday’s Barcelona Marathon, Dave Stephens celebrated his 50th birthday with an excellent 2:44:14, to place 71st in the European Championship Race (his time also would have placed him 2nd 50+ in Canada last year!).

VFACer’s also placed very prominently in the Dirty Duo Saturday, with Ellie Greenwood winning yet another ultra (by 1 1/2 hours!) with a 4:24:37 in the 50K, and Simon Driver had the fastest time for the 25K, while running 2:06:26 as part of the winning relay team. Mark Bennett was close behind in 2:07:21, while Katrina Driver placed 2nd female in the 25K with a 2:26:07, and Mike Palichuk was close behind Ellie in 4:25:20, to place 4th male in the 50K. Finally on Sunday, Nancy Fedoruk ran a solid 18:53 in the very competitive Bazan Bay 5K in Victoria.

Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8K highlights:

Jay MacDonald 25:28, 2nd M30-34
Kristina Rody 28:20 PB, 3rd overall Female ($300), 1st F30-34, VFAC Women’s Club Record
John Atkinson 28:52 PB (after a 55 min 10K Snowshoe Race Saturday!)
Chris Brandt 29:10 PB
Rita Ivanauskas 29:50, 1st Masters Overall Female ($250), 1st F45-49
Katherine Moore 30:27, 3rd F30-34
Janette Purdham 32:42, 1st F40-44
Mirabelle Tinio 33:22 PB