Rick's race report, Lakeside 5K

Men's Age-Graded Results Results

Grizzly 12K race report

With most of the big names giving this race a miss, it was time for others to step up, and Jakub Sumbera, Brian Rourke, and Anne-Marie Gill did not disappoint. Sumbera (M20-29), made the trip from Fairmont to run his first IRA race, and made it memorable by winning with a new course record of 41:45. Despite that achievement, he could not take the victory on age-grading, as Rourke (M60-64) had a great day himself, finishing tenth overall in 51:51 and first on age-grading at 41:00. Gill (F35-39), who only seems to race in Revelstoke, won the womens race (and was fifth overall) in 50:33 with a strong second half drive that saw her pass Nadyia Fry (F20-29, 51:32) and Mary Edgar (F20-29, 52:29) who finished second and third. We'd like to see more of you, Anne-Marie!

The winner of the Blackwell Dairy 15K, Brian Rostek (M40-44) was second in the mens race and second on age-grading with 43:52 (41:18). Vernon's Skeets Morel (M20-29), who was runner-up at Blackwell, finished third overall in 44:36, while Sumbera's 41:45 was good for third age-graded.

The women's age-graded scoring featured a string of new names, with Salmon Arm's Linda Irvine ( first F55-59, 47:22), Vernon's Lynda Proce ( second F55-59, 47:42) and Gill (49:50) filling the first three places.

Announced as the oldest runner in the race, seventy-five year old Guenter Naumann of Okanagan Falls finished 45th overall in 1:06:11, good for ninth on age grading.

Conditions were excellent for running, with dappled sunshine, no wind, and a temperature of around 20 degrees. Numbers were down slightly though, as ninety-three runners (over one third of them locals) finished the course. Thanks to race director Jarrett Spannier and his crew of volunteers for a well staged event with beverage prizes and ribbons for the winners. I think everyone won a draw prize, and one lucky entrant won a helicopter ride for 5 people. If you have never experienced this race, it is well-worth the trip for the scenery, relaxed atmosphere, and quiet, pleasant course.

The next race of the series is the Kelowna Midsummer 8K (all right, this year it seems like the Pre-summer 8K) on July 11. This is your last chance to pick up Timex Series points in the Okanagan, and the flat fast course should see some excellent competition.

Rick Jenkner reporting

June 15

Willis Greenaway Half - Run To Beat Alzheimer's entry form

Registration and race info are available with the link to the left, (or here) as is Eventsonline registration. My thanks to Willis' daughter for the fabulous logo painting. The base entry fee has been raised $5 from last year and all of that increase will be donated to the B.C. Alzheimer Society. In addition the entry pdf contains a link to their web site where donations can be made (thanks) in Willis' memory. I have set a modest goal of raising $2000.

Some of the longer links in the pdf are not working at this time but they will be fixed asap. In the meantime, copy and paste is an alternative.

Just checked the online registration for the Grizzly 12K ... it's only at four! Please help to support our 'out of the way' races (is Revelstoke 'out of the way'?) we've already lost one such at the south end!

Do you have a story about a Timex watch that you believe is worth telling? It could win you a 'trip of a lifetime to either Paris, Costa Rica or St. Lucia' ... if others at this site www.timexstories.ca agree that your tick talk is the best!

June 4

Six Race Scoring

Women's Six Race Age Category Scoring

Men's Six Race Age Category Scoring

Women's Six Race Age-Graded Scoring

Men's Six Race Age-Graded Scoring

On-line registration, for the Grizzly 12K and Raven Run 10K, is now available. Info for the Willis Greenaway Half coming soon.

May 31

Blackwell Dairy 15K results

Rick's race report. Note too, there are no race day pictures for this year's Blackwell.

Masters Dominate at Blackwell Dairy Run

With the overall winners of both the mens and womens divisions, and twelve of the first twenty finishers, masters runners demonstrated that on the toughest course of the series, age and experience count. Local runner Brian Rostek (M40-44) improved on his time of last year by over eleven minutes to lead most of the way and win in 56:09, the best time run on the course since 2006, despite a brisk swirling wind. Rostek also took the overall victory on age grading (53:05.) Young guns Skeets Morel (M20-29) and Nathan Champness (M20-29) of Vernon battled all the way for second, with Morel prevailing 56:54 to 57:17.

Multiple race and trophy winner Cindy Rhodes (F50-54) again dominated the womens race with an outstanding 1:04:49 to finish seventh overall and also ran away with the women's age graded results (54:35) to take the double for the second year in a row. Second woman was Mary Edgar of Vernon (F20-29) at 1:07:04, tenth overall, and third was Kamloops' Ali Fitzgerald (F35-39)at 1:07:49.

The other top finishers on age grading were all from Kelowna, with Laurelee Welder (55-59) taking second at 57:35, (1:10:12) and Diane Leonard (65-69) third in an outstanding 59:21, (1:22:11). Masters women took the top 8 places. For the men, Brian Rourke (60-64) took second in 54:19, (1:08:35) and John Wickenheiser (55-59) was third in 54:34, (1:04:43). Sixteen of the top twenty age graded men were masters.

The cool day was perfect for running, and the sun broke through enough to keep the crowd warm for the scrumptious breakfast of pancakes, strawberries and cream, with Blackwell Dairy ice cream cones for dessert! Thanks to RD Karen King and her crew of volunteers for a great event. Attendance was up over ten percent from last year with 130 finishers.

The series now takes a break for four weeks with the next race the Grizzly Bear 12K Run in Revelstoke on June 27. It is well worth the drive for the spectacular scenery and the yummy homebaked goodies after the race. See you there!

Men's Age-Graded Results Results

May 26

Other Upcoming Interior Races

An all new race will be held in Riverside Park in Kamloops on Sunday June 20th. Here's your chance to do something you've never been able to do in any race before ... get behind Sherry! ... although in this case it's your support she needs. Sherry Maligaspe and Donna Rhynolds are both taking part in the Kidney Foundation's Kidney March and they'll be walking the 100k from K Country (K as in Kananaskis) to Calgary, on September 10-12th. The Kamloops Ridge Runners are putting on the Bare as U Dare run to support their cause. As the registration form says 'the pants drop at 9:00AM'.

You can also contribute to the event by visiting either Sherry's or Donna's personal Kidney March page. They need to raise at least $2200 each to take part, so lets do what it takes to get them out on the road ... they're not there yet. Tax receipts will be emailed for all donations of $10 or more. Thanks for your support.

Next Saturday is the 28th annual Giants Head Run in Summerland on June 5th as part of the Action Fest weekend. Notable about this 10k run, aside from the pleasantly rolling course, are the twenty year age categories, the fifteen hundred dollars worth of draw prizes and the 6:00 PM start time. All this and a great quality cotton shirt for only $15 if you register before May 28th. Online registration for either the 10 or 5.4k available here. The best bang for your race buck that you'll ever find ... with the exception of Series race #9. See you there.

May 19

Five Race Scoring

Women's Five Race Age Category Scoring

Men's Five Race Age Category Scoring

Women's Five Race Age-Graded Scoring

Men's Five Race Age-Graded Scoring

May 16

Blossom 10 Miler Results

Men's Age-Graded Results Results

Finish line pictures courtesy of Bill Fuhrmeister with a big thanks to Peter Pollhammer for uploading them. And the same to Rick Jenkner for another race report.

"Apparently, in all the time since the first Blossom race in 1986,
there have only been two years it rained. I remember two years when
the rain was heavy enough that the SS Sicamous was opened to the
runners for the awards, so I don't think we should count yesterday's
brief showers as a rain year. The temperature was a mild 17 or so,
and there was no wind, making it just about perfect for racing.

At the start line, we all knew it was bravado when Brad Cochrane
started talking about leading for 30 seconds, but it didn't stop him
from bolting to the front and then holding on for ninth overall, and
third in M45-49. As happened last year, Rory Switzer (M45-49) and
Trevor Jordan (M40-44) battled for most of the way, with Rory gaining
an edge on the final uphill and holding the advantage to the finish.
Both ran faster than last year, with Switzer giving everything but
failing to break 57 minutes. The winning time was 57:17, with Jordan
16 seconds back. Sergio Pio (M45-49) ran third most of the way and was
the only other runner to break the hour barrier at 59:53. The same
three took the first three places in the age graded results.

In the womens race, Kelowna's Mel Bos (35-39) started slowly but came
on strong to win in 1:05:55. Second was Cindy Rhodes (50-54), who
followed up a sub-40 clocking in the Sun Run by breaking her own
age category record by two minutes in recording 1:06:21 to also take the age
graded title. Local runner Stacey Cleveland, running her first race
of the year, took third in 1:08:10. Sandra Thomson (55-59) won her
division and took second on A-G at 1:15:56, and Diane Leonard (65-69)
erased the record of the great Mae Palm by 10 seconds with 1:27:44 and
took third A-G.

The brief showers did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants,
who enjoyed a pancake breakfast and hot coffee following the race.
Medals were handed out by World Ultraman 65-69 Champion and Penticton
Pounders past president Ellis Andrews, who had the pleasure of
awarding second in M40-44 to Andrew Ellis. Announcing was handled in
his usual enthusiastic and professional manner by the peerless ' Voice
of IMC ' Steve King.

The next race is the Blackwell Dairy 15K in Barnhartvale on May 30.
See you there!"

Apr 23

Oliver 10K photos

Some finish line pictures have been added to those taken at the awards ceremony and are available with this link. Thanks to Peter for uploading them.

Apr 21

Running Tunisia

Seventeen year old Connor Clerke of Kelowna, who posted overall second place finishes in his last three series races, is one of four Canadian students selected to run 250 kilometres in eight days through the Northern Sahara with world adventurer and ultra marathoner Ray Zahab. The run started on April 19th and their journey can be followed at this Running Tunisia link. Blogs and daily videos are available with the Experience the Run link. The purpose of the run is to raise awareness and funding for water specific projects in Africa.

Apr 20

Boston Marathon results

Interior Boston results

Complete Boston 2010 results

Apr 14

Rick's Oliver Race Report and Four Race Scoring

Thanks to Rick Jenkner for another race report.

"A near-record 229 runners contested the Oliver "Wine Capital of Canada" 10K under cloudy skies with a brisk north wind on April 11. Scott Tremblay (M35-39) ran away with the race, winning for the second time in the last three years in 35:03, but he couldn't beat Ellis Andrews (M65-69) on age-grading. The 2008 winner of the Greenaway Trophy ran his first race of the year, finishing 17th overall, and easily winning M65-69 with a time of 42:03, to take the A-G championship in 32:20.

On the women's side, Cindy Rhodes celebrated her recent 53rd birthday by winning the race by over two minutes from Amelia Vos (F20-29) in an impressive 41:03, taking over a minute off her time at the SRO three weeks ago. Laurelee Welder (F55-59) was third in 44:15, and the sisters took the first two places on A-G, with Cindy first in 34:34 and Laurelee second in 36:18. Seventy-four year old Eleanor Draper, a visitor from England, broke one hour to to win her division and take third on A-G.

Nineteen year old Jonathan Behnke of Kamloops improved his fourth place finish at the SRO by sprinting past Sergio Pio on the playing field to take second overall (36:47). Sergio held on for third to take his second consecutive podium finish, and his 36:54 time was good for second on A-G. Race winner Tremblay took third A-G.

Roy Dagneau ran 52:42 to beat Guenter Naumann by 20 seconds in M75-79, but the older Naumann edged ahead on A-G where the two finished ninth and tenth.

For those keeping track of the records, the first two finishers in the Starting Block 10K, Jeff Symonds, and Aaron Heidt, are the only two runners in B.C. to break 33 minutes so far this year."

Total attendance missed last year's record turn-out by only three, and this year, due to Easter Sunday falling on the previous Sunday, the race competed with the Ski to Sea. Notable that there were eight entrants in the 70+ category.

Good luck and safe journeys to all those heading to Monday's 114th running of the Boston Marathon.

On-line registration for the Blossom is now available.

Women's Four Race Age Category Scoring

Men's Four Race Age Category Scoring

Women's Four Race Age-Graded Scoring

Men's Four Race Age-Graded Scoring

Apr 11

Oliver "Wine Capital of Canada" 10K results

Men's Age-Graded Results

Apr 10

Handicapped runners

As Interior rep with the BC Athletics Road Running Committee, Rick Jenkner submits this note from their recent meeting.

"BC Athletics and the BCA Road Running Committee wish to remind everyone that the insurance policy covering the IRA races allows wheelchairs, both pushed and self propelled, as well as baby joggers. BCA recommends that the competitive wheelchairs be given a separate start before the runners start, and that baby joggers and non-competitive wheelchairs start at the back of the field. Visually impaired runners accompanied by a guide are also encouraged to participate. Note that other forms of self propulsion (rollerblades, skateboards, bicycles, etc.) and participants accompanied by animals are not allowed.

The Road Running Committee also recommends that races call up the first 3 finishers M/F for a 'photo op' before the age-group medals are awarded, whether or not there are trophies to award."

With 127 on-line entries tomorrow's Oliver "Wine Capital of Canada" 10K could possibly have a record turnout. Race start 10:00 AM.

Apr 5

Campus 2 Campus Photos

Dirk's Race Report and Photos Do be sure to thank 'Ike' for the time and effort he puts into his wide ranging race coverage.

Please note that the last day to sign up on-line for the Oliver 10k is Thursday April 8th at midnight and after April 6th a late fee applies. Sunday's weather is presently saying sunny with highs to 15C and light winds.

Apr 3

Running rules!

If you read the above, with 'rules' as a verb, then you likely already have sufficient knowledge of the rules of running. But just so we're all on the same page of what's allowed and what's not, here's a lighthearted take on the subject A Few Rules to Run By.

From the same Active newsletter is this article on the The Science of Recovery which, should you care to know, will explain what training does for your muscles. But running benefits more than just your muscles, it also Boosts Brain Cell Growth ... for middle aged mice at least. And no Mom, it isn't true that running is hard on the knees ... it's good for them. So there you have it, a few of the reasons why running rules!

Congrats to all who took part in the Campus to Campus Half in which Aaron Heidt and Shannon Thompson took the top spots. Campus to Campus 2010 results. Dirk's Race Report and Photos

Mar 23

'The River's' Spring Run Off 10K race report and three race scoring.

Thanks to New Balance and Timex for their draw prize contributions at the SRO. Total entries, (689) for the first three Canadian Tire Road Race Series races, are well up over last year, (592) and second only to the 2003 record entry year. Is it El Nino or El Olympico?

This race report courtesy of Rick Jenkner.

"Last year's winners of the Age Graded Trophies continued where they left off in their first IRA races of 2010 in Kamloops on Sunday. Rory Switzer (M45-49) established a 50 metre lead by the first turnaround, and held it the rest of the way to take a convincing overall and A-G win in 36:08 (32:07), while Cindy Rhodes(F50-54) was third female overall and first on age grading at 42:09 (35:29). Another member of the 45-49 club, Sergio Pio improved on his 5th place finish in the Lakeside 5K by taking second overall, while Kelowna's Glenn Lear (M30-34) was 3rd overall, giving him two thirds and a fifth in 3 races. Newcomer Laura Bestow (F20-29) of Sun Peaks made her debut golden by winning for the women in 40:03, while Kelly Geisheimer (F20-29) made her return to IRA racing for the first time in several years by taking second in 41:03.

A legend from the past made his return to the IRA after a twenty or so year absence as Kelowna's 62 year old Ken French won M60-64 (40:46) and took second A-G. Kamloops' Phillip Sigalet, fresh from some great performances at the Masters Indoor Worlds, was first for M50-54, fifth overall and third on A-G with 37:25. Laurelee Welder won F55-59 (44:22) and finished second age-graded (7th overall), while Diane Leonard made it a Kelowna A-G sweep for the women, winning F65-69 (52:46) and taking third.

Excellent races were run by young Glynis Sim of Salmon Arm (age 11), taking her second win in two appearances in F<15 (45:27) for 7th A-G, and Peter Pollhammer of Kelowna (our A-G stats guy) 44:21 for first in M65-69 and fifth A-G.

With the opportunity to take points in both the IRRS and the Timex Series, the race attracted 205 finishers, well up from last year's 165. The weather started off mild and fine (+7 degrees or so), but a storm was blowing in, and most competitors faced a headwind for the last half of the race. The race organizers produced a first to my knowledge with a chocolate fountain as part of the post race celebration.

The next race of the series is the Oliver 'Wine Capital of Canada' 10K on April 11."

Mail in entries and on line registration links have been posted for race #8 The Midsummer and race #10 The Raven. The Kelowna Running Club now has a Facebook page. The Campus-to-Campus Half, everybody's favourite half ... except for the one in Summerland on the August long weekend ... goes March 28th from the KLO Road college campus - note the course change - it no longer starts at the UBC campus. Rick Jenkner has compiled The Starting Block 10 course records. Rick also sent this note regarding a recent visit with Lorne Smith. See you in Oliver!

Women's Three Race Age-Graded Scoring

Men's Age-Graded Results

Men's Three Race Age-Graded Scoring

Women's Three Race Age Category Scoring

Men's Three Race Age Category Scoring

Mar 12

Rick's race report, Lakeside 5K

After last year's cold blustery day, the weather was much kinder this year for the Lakeside 5K - mild, partly sunny, and only a light lake breeze. The lovely conditions made for fast times for the second race in a row. Jeff Symonds repeated last year's victory, leading all the way and finishing only one second off the race record in 15:18 as he took his second victory of the year. Nathan Champness of Vernon chased hard and finished second in what I believe was a PB 16:36, followed by Glenn Lear of Kelowna who took third in 17:24. Sergio Pio was first master in an impressive 17:30, while 58 year old Bruce Wark took 8th overall and first on Age Grading at 18:37, which equates to 15:14. I didn't mind losing to that performance!

For the women, Vernon's sixteen year old Sarah Bailey won her first race (19:21) after a second in the Starting Block 10K, continuing the tradition of juniors from Vernon winning the race, which began with Vanessa Tilson in 2007, and continued when Chantelle Deacon became the youngest-ever winner of an IRA race at 15 years, 4 months in 2008. Last year's winner Adrienne Stedford of Penticton was second in 20:38. Third spot (20:54) went to, Mandy Sellars of Kamloops. Laurelee Welder continued her fine running, finishing 4th in 20:56 and taking the womens AG title with 17:10.

The previous day, the World Masters Games in Kamloops held a half marathon, in which Cindy Rhodes finished second overall, and won W50-54 with a time of 1:27:53.3. Shirley Gray won W65-69 at 1:51:41.0, repeating her victory from the 8K cross country race. Congratulations to our World Champions. Some other local half finishers were Phil Sigalet, 3rd M45-49, 1:22.03, Perry Grunenberg, 5th M50-54, 1:25:57, Dale Forner, 7th M45-49 1:32:39, and Marianne McLeod, 5th W40-44 (13th overall) 1:41:44 and Lewis Butcher, first in the M75-79, 2:19:44. Belated congrats as well to Lewis (aka Bruce) for his age category first place finish in Monday's 8K cross country.

The next race of the series is the Kamloops Spring Run-off (also a Timex series race) on March 21. See you there.

Rick Jenkner reporting.

Mar 7

Penticton Lakeside 5K results

Race photos