2012

Way too early to start thinking about it all BUT next year's 4th annual Solstice Marathon will be on Dec 21, 2012!!(the end of the Mayan calendar)  We are thinking of following the good folks in Texas & hosting the day after the end of the world marathon on the 22nd of Dec.  What say ye?  Anyone up for a double?  Hmmm - maniacs?  If the world ends on the 21 - a great way to spend the last day is running a marathon.  If the world still exists on the 22nd - well hell yeah - who wouldn't want to mark that occasion with a marathon??  Is it the end of the world as we know it? Do we feel fine???  Let's find out shall we?? Details to come - but the Dec 21 race will be pretty similar to the other 3 but will most likely cost more (not like lots more but some more) (pancakes are not free people!)  So tell your friends & mark all the calendars -

Dec 21

9am start

8:30 registration

Westwood Lake

Nanaimo BC

More pictures!

Just got this link from Sheron Chrysler - some great pictures of a great day

https://picasaweb.google.com/sheron.chrysler/2011Dec21WinterSolsticeWestwoodLakeNanaimo#

enjoy!

My so called times (in no particular order)

Congrats & thanks to all the runners! See you next year!

Marathon Distance

1 Sheila Dawe - early start 7:30 - time: 6:23
2 Richard Stewart - early start 7:30 - time: 6:23
3 Tracy Marshall - early start 7:30 - time: 418
4 Jenny Taylor - time: 4:24
5 Brad Goodman - 32km -time:3:07
6 Mike James
7 James Griffin - early start 7:30 - time:4:30
8 Mike Macey - early start 7:30 - time:4:05

1/2 Marathon Distance

1 Jenna Goodman
2 Deirdre Glaros - 2:37
3 Angellos Glaros - 2:17
4 Annie Gibson - 3:51
5 Darcie Nolan- 4:00
6 Damian Allen
7 David Vanderlinde - 1:52
8 Claire Sasso Sant - 2:30
9 Joshua Seal
10 Tracy McKeown - 2:20
11 Rachel Kimler - 2:14
12 Vivian Aarset - 2:46
13 Stacy Wallington - 1:51
14 Joe Schuckel - 2:23
15 Britta Ballendine - early start 7:30- 6k :48
16 Kelly Schellenberg - 2:14
17 Anne Heyes - early start 7:30 - 2:42
18 Julie Goodman - 2:08
19 Quentin Proud - 2:06
20 Gene Wray - 2:20
21 Cheryl Davies - 2:14
22 Lisa de Lusignan - 2:14
23 Garth Fuller - 6k - :36
24 Catherine Macey - 2:14
25 Sheron Chrysler - 2:14
26 Mylisa Edison  - 2:17
27 Susan Marshall - 2:53

6k
Ken Hewer :34
John :29

RESULTS! Good times & pancakes & vegan chili

So I pretty much just fell down after yesterday & slept & watched old Dick van Dyke episodes with my daughter.  I tried to count the money but was too mushy brained, I tried to sort the food stuffs but was too pooped, I tried to figure out the times but what a mess.  This morning though as we turn the corner back towards spring (through a long January & February mind you) everything seems a little easier.  Pretty sure Dick van Dyke helped too.

So - today Beatrix & I will be taking $206.13 to Loaves & Fishes down on Farquar St, along with a living room full of canned goods. Thanks to all the runners who donated so generously & Julie Goodman for collecting $60 through VIU - not bad for a small young race at Christmas time.

So what is messy about the times is the splits - I knew it would be - I knew that when a flock of runners (gaggle? murder? pride?) came in at once it would be tricky to keep track & it was.  I will work on that for next year - I suspect the key lies in volunteers....

What I do know is

That guy in the middle in the picture above - that's Mike Macey - he runs with the Cowichan Valley Athletic Assoc. and he was 1st in the marathon.  He ran it in 4:05.  I think he had an early start so he could run his marathon & then be done with it and finish his Xmas shopping!
The gentleman in the yellow running vest is James Griffin.  Watch out for him!  He seems mild mannered and polite but he was here last year & is a rebel rouser!  He invited all the C-Vacs & then went to be the 2nd place male finisher in the full @ 4:30.
The woman with the 442 bib is Susan Marshall and what is cool about Susan is she decided on the spot to upgrade to a 1/2 from a 12k.  I don't mean at the start, I mean mid race!  SO she did an unexpected 1/2, finishing it in 2:53.  Impressive.
The rest of the C-Vacs were crazy & loud & know they will not be asked back!!! Or they were actually a wonderful bunch of enthusiastic runners who made the event a lot of fun and have promised to come next year with a bigger group. Thanks C-Vacs!!
Ok - so here is my biggest confusion & cluster eff.  I think - & ladies if you read this & can correct me - please please do - but I think - that Tracy Marshall, VEGAN runner (& maniac) ran it in 4:18, & Jenny Taylor ran it in 4:24.  My confusion?  Well their numbers are consecutive - NO WAIT - & Tracy had an early start.  So they were not running together & would come in & have their bibs covered (no I am NOT blaming them) Ok - look it was my first time keeping times so I did the best I could & please correct me if you know otherwise!

Tracy shakes hands with James at finish line
Stacy Wallington - local boy who has been injured -  ran the 1/2 in 1:51. Well alrighty then.  Congrats to Stacy, who also won a gift certificate from Old City Organics - lucky!

The ginger lady laughing above was first in the 1/2 marathon women - Julie Goodman, who uncharacteristically stopped to chat between laps while her husband Brad Goodman ate chips.  She finished in 2:08.  Hooray Julie!  And thanks to you & Brad for all the gifties from Natural Edge Fitness & Nutrition.

All in all I would say it was a highly successful day - beautiful weather & really good pancakes....

Chief KP officer & head volunteer Alan Medcalf organizes the picnic area, finish line nosh up!  Yum!

Marathon Maniacs Sheila Dawe (co director Dawe) & Richard Stewart (race director of the Moose Marathon in Prince George in September) at the finish line

Thanks to all the volunteers (pictured above) (need to work on getting a few more) & all the runners!
See you all next year.  Hopefully on the day that is actually the shortest day - oh whatever.

(timed results to be posted soon)

Congrats!!

That is about all I can say right now as I am pooped!  It was a beautiful day, a beautiful course, a lot of great people - great food - & my living room is full of food waiting to go to the food bank tomorrow.  After I have had my scotch,  I will post what I laughing call the times & results, which may or may not be correct & are in no way precise - oh wait,  you weren't using this as a Boston Qualifier were you?
I will post pics etc asap - promise - hopefully tonight or tomorrow - but I should feed my kid more than just the yummy snacks @ the water station & try to get a handle on all the dishes - then...
thanks to all for making this a great year - it really was fun & the reason I do it - good people enjoying a nice run, giving to community, improving their health & vegan chili!  Ok - winter - we're ready - bring it!! (just teasing, we loved today just fine, you don't have to be all el nino-y or anything)
More later - again thanks & oh WAIT - I can not even begin to thank Alan Medcalf & Beatrix Gallagher - my crack team of volunteers -enough.  Without them, no pancakes or chili would have been served & the  water station would have been a pile of boxes instead of a lovely camp out - SO THANK YOU!!! Happy Solstice (even if it is technically tomorrow as some very kind passers by pointed out) - look I mean well, ok???

Happy Solstice!

The morning is here - still dark - supposed to be sunny & crisp - a good day for a run!  As of yesterday the course was dry.
I would like to take a second to say thanks to the folks who have helped so far

Angellos Glaros of Glaros Studios - wait til y'all see these medals!
Julie & Brad Goodman of Natural Edge Fitness & Nutrition
Anne Heyes & area manager Brian of the Running Room
the lovely ladies @ Old City Organics
Q energy drink for their donation
Alan Medcalf & Bea Gallagher of Little Blue House Inc

Have a great day today everyone! See you @ the lake!
Happy Solstice

1 more sleep until the 3rd Annual Winter Solstice Marathon

Just a couple of reminders for all you runners

 

If you are doing an early start please come before 7:30 to fill out the registration form.

Also please bring a headlamp as the first lap will be dark

I will be set up in the first parking lot, by the washrooms - come to the registration table to sign in, pay & fill out forms & pick up your race packet

Bring something warm to wear after the race as it is chilly in December at the lake

Bring your $5 & nonperishable food for the local food bank

So see you all tomorrow morning! 

Happy Winter Solstice!