And they are off! Marathon season is in full swing in Ontario with the first race of the season in Mississauga. The day was cool at the start but participants warmed up quickly and were treated to a warm, sunny summer day. The mostly downhill course while harder on the quadriceps proved to be fast aiding many locals in their quest for Boston qualifying times. Amongst the 1710 finishers I had the distinct pleasure of running with my friend Susan Goebel (4:45:25) who was completing her first race at this distance. We were joined by Kris Bonn (3:12:35), Chris Byrd (4:01:25), Megan Fleming (3:58:04), Janet Foran-Goneau (4:26:02), Nancy Wright (3:52:11), Nancie Gibson (3:50:31), Tim Johnson (2:51:19), and Michael Larose (4:56:54).
In the half marathon were Britney Byrd (1:55:03), Sophie Duguay (3:20:22), Dennis Hills (1:33:21), Jeff Musson (1:49:58), Gary and Kristy Thompson (1:56:34), Cuthbert Cheung (1:46:02), Ed Kooistra (1:40:20), Jamie Mutton (1:30:11), Henry Saulnier (2:08:08), Leanne Soden (1:57:14), Andrew Speedy (1:35:08), Cathy Speedy (2:09:35), Sharon Vasconcellos (1:48:08), Elizabeth MacDonald (2:31:03), Sarah Cosh (1:55:31), Colette Hilmi (2:26:21), Petra Austin (2:04:03), Stephanie Rupnow (2:21:07), Oliver Louise (1:39:54), Kathleen Neary (1:55:44), Chad Oliver (1:39:54), Susan Stephenson-Baker (1:57:39), Tom Fleming (1:37:43), Robert Walroth (1:37:37), Terry Stevenson (2:17:02), and Julia Swedak (2:12:45). The night before the half and full marathons, the 10k and 5k races were held. Suzie Wilson (44:04) raced the 5k while Sam Clements (44:50), Sue Clements (57:31) Lisa Camp (59:30) and Sue Stevenson (1:10:35) ran the 10k.
In one of the first triathlons of the season the Limestone tri (500m/20k/5k) was held in near perfect weather in Kingston. Staged at RMC transition from the pool swim to a sunny cycle in this year?s edition of the race was much more pleasant for participants. Locals were Darryll styles (1:15:22), Donna Lott (1:16:21), Bill Saunders (1:19:51), Bryan Dunham (1:21:23), Michelle Pothier (1:24:29), Janet Allaire (1:26:14), Frank Martineau (1:27:56), Cynthia Martineau (1:40:25), and Tricia Cammaart (1:42:07).
On May 8 in Lakefield Amity Kamink ran the 5k in 37:28 and on May 15 in Whitby Jordan Langridge (17:06), Michelle Porthier (23:58) and Laura Mounsteven (38:48) ran the Triple A 5k.
On May 30 at the George Street Pier there will be a 5k run/walk in support of the Gleaners Food Bank. Registration is on site the morning of the event at begins at 9:30am. Fee is $10 or 10 pounds of food. First 25 to register will receive a free pedometer.
June 6 in Picton will see the fourth running of the County Kids of Steel. This race is for kids 6 to 17 years of age, with distances appropriate to each age group. To see distances download the race application from
www.pefac.ca.
On June 11 the annual Surf & Turf race will take place at 8 Wing Trenton. Teams of eight, two or solo participants will cover over 60k of Quinte West in eight legs consisting of running, paddling, cycling and swimming. If you are interested details can be found at
http://www.cg.cfpsa.ca/cg-pc/Trenton/EN/FitnessandSports/MilitaryFitness/Pages/SurfNTurf.aspx. Registrations must be in by June 9.
