First Half great, the whole even greater

In almost perfect conditions and with the second half back on the Seawall, 32 VFAC runners racked up 11 personal bests and otherwise contributed substantially to a great First Half 1/2 Marathon race. The close to 2000 finishers were led again from crazy-4:40 mile start to 1:06:02 finish by Ryan Hayden. Jay MacDonald, Paul Krochak and Brad Cunningham wisely stayed back on pace together through most of the first half. Jay and Paul continued together til the end, when Jay sprinted away to lead the VFAC contingent home in 11th overall with a 1:12:00 PB. Paul was next in a near PB of 1:12:03. On the comeback trail (road?), Jorge Parra finished 17th in 1:14:41, two positions ahead of Brad’s 1:15:37 PB. Chris GT Downie renewed his week-to-week rivalry with new member Mark Bennett, this time coming out on top by 3 seconds in 1:18:09, a 5 second PB. Mark also ran a PB and took 3rd in the M45-49. Guy Smith won the M50-54 with a 2 year best of 1:19:08. Solid times were also put up by new member Ben Maas (1:19:22), Ernest Hawker (1:20:22), John Atkinson (1:20:59 PB), Tim Oftebro (1:22:11), returning-to-form Jo Astoria (1:22:55), Kim Jow (1:34:54), Rhys Howard (1:35:44), and new member Al Urquhart (1:39:29). After Kirsty Smith’s winning 1:16:42 and the next four fastest, Falcon females formed a formidable front. New member Ellie Greenwood was sixth and 1st in the F25-29 in a 1:23:34 PB. Katherine Moore continued her PB ways, knocking over 2 minutes off at 1:24:11, good for 8th overall and 2nd F30-34. New member Susanne Russell also cracked the top 10 with a 1:26:14 PB, also placing her 3rd F25-29. Laura De Munain, fought off a flu to finish 13th and 2nd F35-39 in 1:26:50. Mary Walsh had a 3 minute PB of 1:28:46 to place 16th, while new member Hisayo Matsumoto also broke 1:30 for the first time at 1:29:32 to place 22nd. Also running bests or near bests were Chloe Gendron (1:31:35), and new members Sophie Dansereau (1:33:22 PB) and Mirabelle Tinio (1:37:05). The last half featured an equally impressive turnout at the Yaletown Brewpub to make the whole day (almost literally-yikes!) a memorable one.