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The Barrie RoadRunners

Monday, December 17, 2007

Robbie Burns 8k Road Race

On January 27th the Burlington Runners will be hosting the 29th annual Robbie Burns 8k Road Race. There are lots of awards and prizes including a tartan back pack for those register in time. For more info and to register, click here.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Santies in their Scanties


Maybe we should try this in Barrie!!!
The following appears on the My Next Race.com Web site.

Wrapped in teeny tiny Lycra suits, Santa's packages made a nippy jaunt through Yorkville yesterday.

A few dozen brave athletes took part in the third annual Toronto Santa Speedo Run, decorated in strategically placed tinsel and red ribbons to supplement their bathing suits.

"It's not really something you anticipate seeing -- people running around Yorkville in little red Speedos," said Matt Freeman, who organized the Sick Kids Foundation fundraiser. "Canadians are tough and party."

This was the third annual run for Freeman, who started the event as a way of giving back to The Hospital for Sick Children, where he was put back together time and time again during his "accident-prone" childhood.

Tying a wide red ribbon above her bathing suit bottoms, Shannon Sinclair explained before the run, "This is to hide from the jiggle. And it's festive."

"It's damn cold," she added, fitting retrofitted red slippers over her runners.

As of yesterday, the runners had raised more than $30,000, with every dollar going to the Foundation.

That's up from last year's nearly $20,000 raised, and way up from the year before, when $7,500 was brought in.

It's not so hard to hassle people for donations when you have a plan like this, said Laura Branson.

"You're doing something not so fun -- running in the cold. They say, 'That's crazy,' and they donate," Branson said, holding a Christmas-clad dog named Rex, who also took part in the run. "I'm not scared, but I hate the cold, so I just want it to be over."

"It's a great cause and hey, we're Canadian -- we should be doing this kind of thing," said two-time Speedo runner Bruce Lewis-Watts, an Ironman competitor.

With "Streakin' Speedsters" painted on their abs, Natalie Patterson and four other women led the way out of Hemingway's restaurant for the start of the 30-minute run.

"I'm excited and nervous," Patterson said. "We're bearing ourselves to the public."

On torontosantaspeedorun.com, where donations are still being accepted, the event was summed up with this: "It's a fun run with the only objective being to raise as much money as possible, while making complete and utter spectacles of ourselves."


Note: By TAMARA CHERRY, SUN MEDIA

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Barrie RoadRunners in our new team shirts making our presence known at Angus Glen 2007.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Running Calender

This was passed on to us today and if there is enough interest (20 or more) we could get a discount. E-mail us if interested

Greetings Runners:
Just in time for Christmas...the 2008 Ontario Running Calendar - 12 month, four colour glossy calendar featuring great photos and inspirational messages. Wholesale rates available for clubs who purchase 20 or more.
You can see some of the calendar here:
http://www.itsjustrunning.blogspot.com/

Cheers,
Kathy


Kathy Wade Vlaar
Manager of Industry Marketing
Phone: (905)858-3060 ext. 207

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Snowflake Running Series in Orillia

If anyone is interested in the snow flake running series here is the schedule of the races, unfortunately one is already completed:

Four races on tap for 2007/2008 Winter Series!!!
Canadas only Winter running series heads into year 13 this season with 4 races on tap. Brochures will be posted for downloading and printing. Please pre-register if possible as it makes our lives on race day a lot easier and allows us to get the races off on time.

Race #1 - Sunday December 2, 2007 - 5k - Results
Race #2 - Sunday December 16, 2007 - 5k

Race #3 - Tuesday January 1 2008 - 10k

Race #4 - Sunday January 13, 2008 - 5k

For more info click on the title to go to the website.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Barrie.RoadRunners Blog around the world

With the use of a website called Google Analytics we have been able to follow how our website is viewed and from where. For example since it was registered with the Google site (November 20th) we have had 126 visits from 8 different countries (Canada, US,UK, Germany, New Zealand, Serbia, South Africa and Croatia). Most of the Canadian visitors are from the greater Toronto are and Barrie, but we have had visitors from Sudbury, Montreal, Halifax, Kingston and Ottawa. In the US the visits have come from NY, California, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Nebraska, Alabama, Texas, Missouri and Ohio.
Whether visitors are searching for us directly or not, our club is getting some recognition through out the world.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Chilly Half Marathon

If any one is planning on doing the Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington next March, you had better sign up soon. There are only 300 spots left and the walk is sold out.

If you wish to run this year sign up today before it is too late on www.vrpro.ca

Friday, November 30, 2007

Las Vegas Marathon

This weekend is the Las Vegas Marathon and there are a number of Barrie RoadRunners traveling to the event. So good luck to all and bring us back some info and pictures.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Getting Past the Wall in a Marathon

The following article was featured on the Sudbury Rocks website

Fixing the FadeHow to feel strong in the final miles of your next marathon

By Greg McMillan, M.S.
As featured in the September 2007 issue of Running Times Magazine


Like most first-time marathoners, I sailed through 18 miles of my first marathon feeling like a million bucks. By 21 miles I wasn’t worth five cents. I faded badly over those final six miles. My second marathon was even worse. Run in hot and humid conditions, I was reduced to the marathoner’s survival shuffle even earlier.

By my third marathon, I figured a few things out and voila! — no fade. I finally felt like I actually raced the full marathon distance and set a 10-minute personal best. Here are the three things that I find help fix that marathon fade.

Fix #1: Decrease Your Delta
When I first evaluate a runner’s marathon training, I calculate what I call the “long run delta.” The “long run delta” is the difference between your longest long run in your marathon phase and your average long run in the six weeks prior to beginning your 12-week marathon-specific training. For example, if your average long run prior to marathon training is 14 miles and your longest long run during your marathon plan is 22 miles, then your long run delta is eight miles (22 - 14 = 8). If you regularly run 12 miles and your longest run is 22 miles, then your long run delta is 10 miles.
I’ve found that if runners simply decrease their long run delta (meaning that they increase their normal long run distance prior to marathon training), they are less likely to fade in the final few miles of their marathon. I’ve also found that a long run delta of six or less miles works best for runners hoping to qualify for Boston.

Clever runners, of course, suggest that it’s easy to get a long run delta of six or less. All you have to do is do pre-marathon long runs of 12 miles and marathon long runs of 18 miles. While this is a popular strategy for beginning marathoners, it isn’t the best plan if you’re trying to fix your marathon fade. You need to condition the leg muscles to withstand the stresses of running long. You want to improve your body’s ability to fuel these muscles for the long run. And, you want to callous the mind to running while tired. These are best accomplished by running more and longer long runs.

If you plan at least one 22-miler in your marathon plan, make sure that you are running a few 16 to 18 milers prior to starting your 12-week marathon training program. Increasing your pre-marathon long run length, combined with adequate marathon-phase long runs, is the best way to decrease your delta and fix your fade. There simply are no shortcuts to faster marathoning.


Fix #2: Add Four Fast Finish Long Runs to Your Plan
I learned about the fast finish long run from Gabriele Rosa, the coach of world-record holder Paul Tergat. In this type of long run, you start at your normal long run pace but run the last four to 10 miles at your goal marathon pace. If you want to run 3:30 for the marathon then run the last few miles at 3:30 pace. Want to run 2:30? Then, run the last few miles at 2:30 pace.
The idea is that you are training your body (and maybe more importantly, your mind) to run strong even when you are tired, just like you will need to do in the marathon. My experience is that runners who perform four fast finish long runs (one every other week) in their training are much less susceptible to the finishing fade.

Why four? I’ve learned that doing more than four fast finish long runs causes runners to peak too soon. Your best runs become the fast finish long runs and not the marathon. Less than four fast finish long runs can work, but more often I find that runners need more of this type of run to really dial in how to run them well.
I suggest that runners start with a 14- to 16-mile long run about eight weeks prior to your marathon, with only the last four miles at goal marathon pace. Two weeks later, extend the total length of the run as well as the marathon pace portion by one to two miles. By the fourth one, you end up with an 18- to 20-mile run with the last eight to 10 miles at goal marathon pace. There is no doubting that this is tough running but it really helps condition the body and mind to running marathon pace when tired, thus fixing the fade.

Fix #3: Add One or Two Super Long Runs

For most runners, decreasing the long run delta and adding fast finish long runs should take care of the fade (assuming proper pacing, and adequate fueling and hydrating before and during the race). If, however, you are still fading, I suggest one more fix: adding one to two super long runs.

A super long run is an easy long run lasting 24 to 28 miles. The goal of the run is to provide a very large stimulus for the body to adapt to the marathon distance. A slow pace is better than a fast pace, as you simply want to stay out there for a long, long time.

This type of workout is very stressful to the body and you must alter your regular training before and after it to recover. I never advise more than two super long runs in a marathon plan, spaced apart by four weeks; I like to schedule them eight weeks and four weeks before the marathon. Also, you must take three to five days of just easy jogging or cross-training after each super long run — don’t worry about skipping workouts or even the next weekend’s long run in favor of proper recovery. You have really challenged your endurance by running a long, long way and now must provide the body plenty of rest in order to reap the benefits.

Greg McMillan is an exercise physiologist and USATF certified coach who helps runners via his website www.mcmillanrunning.com


Copyright ©2007 Running Times Magazine. All rights reserved.

Cruise to Run

Anyone interested in a cruise this winter. May be this is for you. The Cruise to Run.

Cruise To Run - The Ultimate Runners Vacation

The itinerary is set for the Cruise To Run. Space is still available although very limited. If you, your club, family or friends are interested in going, now is the time to book.!!! The Cruise is great for both serious and recreational runners/triathletes.

To book or for more info visit our web site www.cruisetorun.com


Saturday January 12th -Set sail aboard the Crown Princess from San Juan Puerto Rico
Sunday January 13th -Day at Sea- Meet and Greet Breakfast, seminars, use of fitness room, track and treadmills.
Monday January 14th - Barbados - 5k race and afternoon swim.
Tuesday January 15th- St. Lucia - 8k Vigie Lighthouse Run
Wednesday - January 16th - Antigua- A.M. Run to Fort Barrington 13k Afternoon hash with the Antigua Hash House Harriers
Thursday - January 17th - Tortola challenge the Mountain Run up to Fort charlotte- 947 ft. climb in 2k. Awesome Scenery.
Friday January 18th - St. Thomas- 5k Prediction Run
Saturday Jan 19th - Runners Depart- San Juan Puerto Rico

Guest speakers on the Cruise include - Bart Yasso CRO of Runners World Magazine
Lisa Bentley 11 time ironman Champion

There will still be time to enjoy the beautiful Crown Princess, beaches, snorkeling, shopping and more.


If you have any questions about the Cruise do not hesitate to contact me at instride@primus.ca or by phone at 905-562-8669

Jerry Friesen
Cruise To Run Organizer

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Kempenfelt Triathlon Club

If you ever had an interest in doing a Triathlon, this is more than likely the club for you. Next to Artic Bullfighting, Triathlons is the fastest growing sport globally. Oh,...it's true.
feel free to contact me ijamie63@rogers.com

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Burlington Runners up coming events

The Burlington Runners have asked to pass on their newsletter to our members. It contains numerous evetns over the next while so check out the link below.

Burlington Runners

The Toad

It may seem early, but the registration for "Run for the Toad" has opened. The race isn't until October 4th next year, but it always sells out early. Great event and well organized.

Run for the Toad

Mississauga Marathon Weekend deal!!!!

Are you planning on doing any of the Mississauga Marathon Races next May? If so the Residence Inn by Marriott – Creekbank is offering the Barrie RoadRunners a rate of $109 per night including hot Breakfast. The hotel is 10 minutes from the Starting Line at Square One.



Mississauga Marriott

Mississauga Marathon

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Poll results

Well the first poll we have conducted is over and the Half Marathon wins out as your favourite race distance, narrowly beating the marathon. We will probably do this one again to see if the numbers change. Look out for more polls soon.

PB in Philly

Congratulations to Ron Leigh who ran a personal best in Philadelphia (3:19) capping off a great running season for him. Hope you enjoyed the game afterwards.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Weekend Races

This weekend is the Philidelphia Marathon and both Roger & Ron are headed down, so good luck to both and let us know what it like. It is supposed to be flat & fast.
If there are any other races that anyone is doing in the next few weeks let us know.
Who did Hamilton? How did it go?

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Shirts


The following was written on the Barrie RoadRunners site regarding the New shirts:

Shirts will be again available for Pick Up after the Sunday run. Please be there as I can not keep doing this week after week.

There are people looking for shirts so if you want to sell your shirts for whatever reason please let me know sizes etc.

Anyone who wants to order there will be a sign up sheet in the store on Sunday. Long sleeve $50 and short $40. $5 from each will go directly too the roadrunner Running Group for things like - Web Sites - Advertising etc.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

New feature

To the right of the page you will see a new feature, a link to a collection of Running route maps around Barrie of varying distances.
There are a few maps listed now, with more to come and more features to come. Check back soon!
Eventually you'll be able to upload maps to the site to share, but for know if you have maps you'd like to add please
email them to Scott at swhynot@pavliks.com

RoadRunner Shirts are in!

The RoadRunner shirts have arrived and James Rooney is handing them out at The Runnign Room Run Club. For those that haven't paid, your money is overdue. There has also been some talk of ordering another batch, so for those that are interested see James. Again a lot of credit should go to James for the the work he has done to get these shirts for us.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Back up and Running

We are back up and trying to catch up on the activities of the past week and a half. The Niagara Marathon took place on October 28th and Congratulations to all those who completed their races, especially to Oliver Owens who qualified for Boston with a new PB (3:19).
This past weekend was the Angus Glen half marathon and as usual there was a large contingent from the Barrie area. Congratulations again to all.
If anyone has any pictures or reviews of either event pass them on and we'll post them.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Cross Country



Fall brings not only the best world-class marathons, but cross country running, and it's not just for high school students! Yesterday was the Ontario Masters 8k Cross Country Race at Sunnybrook Park. Barrie representation included Hellaina (as is tradition), who even garnered a second place age grouping medal. For more information on cross country and the indoor and outdoor track scene, visit http://www3.sympatico.ca/ontario.masters/ .

Monday, October 22, 2007

Latest news

3 Marathons in 8 days for Kevin O'Neill, finishing with the Detroit Marathon on Sunday and another great time 3:21. But, apparently it is finally catching up to him as he is feeling the pain now.
This coming Sunday is the Niagara Marathon with a number of our group running and a some trying to qualify for Boston (Clarence?). Good luck.
The Following Sunday Nov 4th is the New York City Marathon, so good luck to anyone who is making the trip.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Toronto Zoo Run 10k

This past weekend was also the Toronto Zoo Run. A 10k race that takes runners around the zoo. Here are the results.

Back to Back Marathons!

This past weekend saw Kevin O'Neill complete his back to back Marathon weekend. On Saturday Oct 13th, Kevin finished the Hartford Marathon in Connecticut in 3:17 and then on Sunday Oct 14th he finished the Atlantic City Marathon in 3:22. Awesome job, but probably not recommended that everyone try this.

Toronto Half Marathon

Here are the Barrie Results for the Toronto Half marathon. If anyone has any comments or a race report to submit e-mail it to us and we will post it. And if you have any pictures send them in and we will post them.


Toronto Marathon Results

Here are the Barrie Results for the Toronto Marathon. If anyone has any comments or a race report to submit e-mail it to us and we will post it. And if you have any pictures send them in and we will post them.

Carribean Cruise & Running

Anybody interested in going on a Carribean cruise and running at the same time? Check out the following sent to us from the people at Instride.

The Cruise To Run sails on January 12th to the 19th aboard the beautiful Crown Princess. The ship will sail from San Juan Puerto Rico and Visit Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Tortola and St. Thomas. Runs are planned for each island as well as some great on board activities. You will still have time to enjoy the Caribbean and all it has to offer. This cruise is for everyone from the serious to recreational runner. Guests speakers and participants on the Cruise are Runners World CRO Bart Yasso and 11 time Ironman champion Lisa Bentley.

Get a break from the cold and come and run with us. The Cruise To run is organized by a runner for runners. For more information or to register for the Cruise visit our web site at www.cruisetorun.com or email me at instride@primus.ca or call at 905-562-8669



Jerry Friesen

Cruise To Run Organizer.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Ontario Masters Cross Country

Anybody interested in some shorter cross country races for the older crowd, click the link above for some good cross country races not too far from home.

Crazy Runners!

We have amongst our group a couple of runners who some may call determined, strong, or just plain nuts. One is Kevin O'Neill who this coming weekend will do back to back marathons. On Saturday Kevin will run the Hartford Marathon followed by the Atlantic City Marathon on Sunday. And if this doesn't sound crazy enough he will also do the Detroit Marathon on the following Sunday. 3 marathons in 8 days.
She may not be doing 2 marathon's on one weekend, but just as crazy, or maybe more so, is Sylvie Phillips who after an intense summer of trail races, competed in the Horseshoe half marathon on September 23rd, followed by the Akron Marathon on the the 29th, this past sunday she completed the Chicago Marathon (despite having officials trying to pull her and others off the course - see below). Next Sunday she we'll be trying the Toronto Marathon, after that will be Niagara and Philly, and oh yes she will be doing the Goofy challenge in January. Hopefully our runners will stay healthy. Good luck.

Chicago Marathon etc.

Running in the Heat (Courtesy Marathonguide.com)
The biggest marathon weekend of all time.... The final day to qualify for the USA Men's Olympic Trials.... The weekend should have been a different story than it turned out to be, but the main story of the weekend was the weather. With a heatwave blanketing much of the USA, runners at the Chicago Marathon had to endure temperatures in the high 80s while runners at the other weekend races endured versions of the same (with the exception of the St. George Marathon where conditions were ideal). Different races chose different approaches: at the Twin Cities Marathon it was business as usual, but hot. The Lakefront Marathon chose to lengthen the course limit, to allow runners to take it easy and still finish. The Chicago Marathon chose to announce an early end to the marathon and reroute finishers who did not reach the halfway point in under three hours (gun time). For safety reasons, the approach of Chicago was probably necessary, but from the point of view of runners who were yanked off the course, the approach of the race was the equivalent of murder. The reviews we've been receiving at MarathonGuide.com have been uniformly angry with runners citing the "wasted cost of travel," "inability to take advantage of training for a marathon to actually finish a marathon, a now-broken string of Chicago Marathon finishes and other travails. CNN called it a "fiasco." The New York Times called it "havoc." We call it a lose-lose situation for the Chicago Race Director and City Officials

Friday, October 5, 2007

The Ultra Marathon Man

FOr some good video clips about Dean Karnazes and ultra marathons go to the link, some interesting stuff. And we wonder why people think we are crazy.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Monday, October 1, 2007

Akron Marathon Video

Here's a link to a video from the Ohio.com web site of the Marathon.

Akron Road Runner Marathon & Half

This past weekend saw 11 Barrie RoadRunners go on a road trip to Akron, Ohio to take part in the 5th annual Akron Road Runner Marathon on Saturday September 29th. The first thing to say about this event it is probably the best event that most of have been apart of from the expo through to the post race festivities (3 free beers to each finisher, although it was only Michelob Ultra light). Secondly the course is the toughest that most of us have done by far, but consider that a challenge. On a beautiful sunny day (most of the race was run in the early hours and in the shade) they were actually a few PB's. Oliver Owens knocked 22 minutes off his to finish in 3:26. Ron Leigh also set a PB with a 3:21.
In the Half Marathon we had only one competitor, Nancy Chong, who once again came away with some hardware. Ist place in the female masters division with a 1:33.
Congratualtions to the support crew who did their part to bolster the US economy by spending many of our recently rejuvenated Canadian dollars.
Pictures to come.

Toronto Waterfront Marathon

On a record setting day in Toronto on Sunday many Barrie RoadRunners were taking part in the Marathon & Half Marathon. Congratulations to all those who completed the races.
If we've missed you, let us know.


Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Pre Marathon Nutrition

The following article was featured on the CBC News website

In Depth
Exercise and fitness
Q & A: Marathon fuelSports nutritionist Monique Ryan on your pre-race diet
Last Updated September 24, 2007
CBC News
You've been preparing for your marathon for weeks, taking care to eat well. While not depriving yourself of your favourite treats, you have been focusing on foods that complement your training.

As the marathon approaches, should you alter your diet? We reached Monique Ryan, author of Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, and asked her about what you should be eating in the days leading up to your marathon.

Assuming I have been fairly good with my diet in the weeks leading up to my marathon, are there any changes I should make in that final week?Yes, definitely. Everybody's going to taper — rest up — for the race about five days out. You want to make sure that whatever training you do during that week that you eat appropriately for that training. If there are any hard workouts — the ones that can cause some muscle damage — it's really important to have enough protein as well as the carbohydrates to replenish muscle glycogen stores.

But two days out for sure — even three for some people — you can start thinking about carbo-loading. That's not about depleting your fuel stores but overcompensating your fuel stores. In other words, you're not doing a whole lot those days and you really want to fill up your muscle stores with glycogen. We all know that's the limiting factor that causes us to hit the wall in a marathon. Muscle glycogen is one of the major fuels you are going to use. The really good people — the two hour or so people — are going to use a lot of it. But even the four-, five- and six-hour people are going to use it all the time at some level during the race. So it's important to load up well before the race.

Are there certain foods or food groups I should concentrate on leading up to the race?Don't try anything weird or strange now. Your diet could be a little boring at this time but you have to think of it as being on a nutrition prescription for your race. It's not about it being interesting or gourmet-like. You can save that for after the marathon. Starches, breads and pastas, rice, potatoes and sweet potatoes are all very good sources of carbohydrates that are easily digested. Also fruits and juices, within reason.

Two days before the marathon, people like to go easy on the really high fibre foods, which is fine to do because they want to have — let's just say — lighter bowels for the run. Vegetables are all right a day or so out, but some people don't like having vegetables the day before — especially raw vegetables, or they keep the amounts low.

How much carbohydrate should I have in the days before my marathon?For the average person who's doing nothing the day before, you should have about eight to 10 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight, which is actually a fairly high amount. You're not going to need a lot of protein that day, you're not going to eat a lot of fat that day, so it's going to be a sort of strange looking diet in the sense that it's going to be a lot of carbs and a lot of starchy food. A big bagel with lots of jam and honey is a great way to get almost 100 grams of carbs in a snack. It's good to go high on the carbs two days before the race because if you feel kind of full and stuffed from that, you don't feel that way the day before the race. You feel that way two days before the race.

If I like to stick to pasta, how much should I have to get the carbs I need?
Three cups of cooked pasta would give you about 100 grams of carbohydrate. The average female runner will want to get in about 500 grams of carbohydrate for the day while carbo-loading. The average male will need about 600 or 700 grams. So if you did 100 grams or so per meal or snack, you'd have to do that four or five times over the day. You could have more pasta than that — but that is a lot to eat at one time.

Is there anything I should keep in mind if I am a vegetarian?It's actually very easy to carbo-load if you're a vegetarian because beans and lentils are great sources of carbohydrates. When you combine those with starches like rice and pasta, you get lots of carbohydrate in one meal. So it's actually a great way to carbo-load.

How much protein do I need in the days before my race?Not much, maybe 100-130 grams per meal at lunch and dinner. It's not a large amount. By then you've finished those really hard runs that kind of cause some muscle damage. When you're resting, you have to assume that your muscle fibres have rejuvenated a little bit in that week that you're doing the taper — otherwise you're not doing the taper right. You don't need huge amounts of protein when you are basically resting.

When should I have my last big meal before the race?I like people to go real heavy on the carbohydrate amounts two days before the marathon. If you have an early start time — which most marathons do — then finish eating by five or six o'clock at the latest. Even have your big meal at two o'clock and have a snack later on. You want to wake up marathon morning feeling kind of hungry so that you can eat a pre-race meal.

And what should that pre-race breakfast consist of?The morning of you will want to get at least 100 grams of carbohydrate in. If you're a larger runner, you might want as much as 120 or 150 grams. Obviously the choices are going to be very tenuous here. You want to be very careful. Again, nothing weird or strange or new. A lot of people like oatmeal. Some people will have an easy to digest cereal, some people like soymilk instead of dairy milk. For others the fruit of choice is a banana or a glass of juice. Certainly it's fine to have a bagel and jam — even a little bit of peanut butter. A lot of people like to have some of those high carbohydrate sports drinks. Others like one of those liquid meals like an energy shake.

What kinds of foods should I focus on after the race — for recovery?Mostly carbohydrates. Obviously you're going to have plenty of muscle damage. That's not going to go away with one little snack. Protein's fine too — whatever looks like it's going to appeal to your stomach. All the bagels and bananas they have at the finish line of the race works out great. Keep hydrating with something that has carbohydrate and sodium in it, like a sports drink. If your stomach feels a little strange, you can focus on taking in liquids. A beer is fine, but not until later in the day. Don't be under the illusion that it's helping you to replenish!

5 Peaks Half Marathon at Horseshoe

Our very own Nancy Chong won the Horseshoe Trail Half Marathon on Saturday Sept 23rd. As part of the 5 peaks trails series Nancy was the first female and 22nd overall in 1:37, husband Eric Jackson was 15th overall in 1:32 and Sylvie Phillips finished in 2:10.

Monday, September 24, 2007

This Coming Weekend

- Berlin Marathon: Haile Gebrselassie who now makes running a sub-60 minute Half-Marathon look so, so easy, will be going after the world record. Will he succeed this time??
- Great North Run: Paula Radcliffe will be making her return to racing at the BUPA Great North Run. After a year off and a new baby - how will Paula fare? Also in attendance, Sammy Wanjiru will try to lower his Half-Marathon world best and Dathan Ritzenhein will show what he has as he prepares for the USA Marathon trials.
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon: One of the fastest marathons in North America will be televised live on cbcsports.ca....
- Akron RoadRunners Marathon & Half Marathon: 11 Barrie RoadRunners are travelling down to take part.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

RoadRunner Shirts

For those that are ordering the shirts, payment is due this Wednesday (Sept 26th) to James Rooney. Again a word of appreciation should go out to James for all his work on this.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Westover Shore to Shore 300km Relay

Who is interested in putting a team(s) in this phenomenal event? If we have enough interest we could put in a couple of teams.


On May 30-31, 2008 Westover Treatment Centre is pleased be hosting the second annual Westover Shore to Shore 300 KM Relay, the first relay of its kind in Ontario. We had 58 teams (608 participants) last year. We expect over 100 teams in 2008.



The event begins in Port Stanley on Lake Erie and ends in Grand Bend on Lake Huron. Teams of 6-12 are invited to register for one of three relays. The 36 Leg Running Relay begins on Friday morning in Port Stanley. The 22 Leg Walking Relay is 175 KM beginning at Stage Two in Thamesville. The 8 Leg Recreational Walking Relay is 60 KM and starts at Stage Four in Sarnia. Everyone finishes Saturday afternoon with a large beach party in Grand Bend.



Feedback from participants last year taught us that teams need to plan well in advance. Many of you are now finishing your preparation for a fall 10 K, half or full marathon. Soon you will be planning for the spring. We expect the Shore to Shore will again be one of the most unique and exciting running/walking events in Ontario next spring and we would be very pleased to have your club represented by a team or two. For all of the details, results, photo gallery and registration, please visit www.shoretoshorerelay.com.



The event is a fundraiser for Westover Treatment Centre, a residential treatment facility for drug and alcohol addiction. Our 33-Bed facility (Stage Two on the course) is funded 75% by the Provincial Ministry of Health. The rest we raise on our own. To learn more about us, please visit www.westover-fdn.org. We want every runner and walker in the province to be aware of this unique opportunity. They may even take advantage of the early race fee available until October 31.



Thanks very much and don’t hesitate to email our Director of Communications, Chris Veillon, if you have any questions. You will find his coordinates on the "contact us" page of the website.



Willy Van Klooster,

Executive Director

Westover Treatment Centre

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Terry Fox Run

This Sunday is the Terry Fox Run and if your not running in it why not sponsor someone, then why not sponsor our very own Hellaina Rothenburg. She has always been a avid Terry Fox Foundation supporter and organizer, so if you want to sponsor her you can do so at http://www.terryfoxrun.org/ENRunner/default.asp?s=1&RunnerID=47913

Sunday, September 9, 2007

RoadRunners 1st & 2nd


On Saturday September 8th Kevin O'Neill and Keith Lascelles ran their 1st 50k races at the Haliburton Trail races. After a night of very little sleep due to a storm going through the area, the 6am start came all too early. But in ideal conditions Kevin came first in 4:38 followed by Keith in 4:56.
Click here for a great race report from the 3rd place competitor with somemore pictures.

Results now posted - click here

Sunday, September 2, 2007

New Links List

We have added a links list to our blog as you will see at the bottom of the middle column, so if there is a link you would like to see on the list let us know.

Paradise Lakes Trail Run

Saturday September 1st was the 4th Annual Paradise Lake Trail Runs just north of Waterloo. 2 RoadRunners took part, Hellaina Rothenburg was the 6th female in the 25k in 2:12. Keith Lascelles was 7th overall in 1:45. It should be noted that the race was not the advertised 25k, but more like 22k. Although it was a difficult 5 loops, the weather could not have been better.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Two More Ironmen


On Sunday August 26th Tim Hatch and Jamie Nielson completed the Louisville, Kentucky Ironman. Tim's time was 12:17:05 and finished 442nd, Jamie was 725th in a time of 13:06:22. Awesome job by both, we are honoured to run with guys (or girls) who can put themselves through such an ordeal and still say that was fun.

Monday, August 27, 2007

RoadRunner Gear


Looks we have some movement on RoadRunner gear. James Rooney is in contact with Sugoi about ordering Singlets, Tees and Longsleeve Tees. Prices to follow. He will be taking orders at the Running Room on Wednesday at Run Club. The primary colour will be red and the logo as seen above, which will be on the back and also mapleleafs in the shirt design. The picture at right is what the Tee is supposed to look like. Stay tuned for more...

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Barrie Dragon Boat Festival

Saturday August 24th saw a number of the RoadRunners compete as "Running On Water" in the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival. For most of us this was our first time, so we probably surprised a lot when we won both of our heats. The second heat saw us come from behind to win. The third heat was cancelled to due to inclement weather, preventing our team from claiming first in our division. As it was we were .7 seconds out of first place. A good day and a lot of fun had by all. Thanks to Georgian Pontiac for their Sponsorship. Special acknowledgement should go out to Clarence Wang, the organizer of our team, who worked tirelessly to make everything happen. Thanks Clarence.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Orillia Triathlon

This past Sunday was the Orillia Triathlon and we were represented by "A Rose and 2 Thorns" who came 1st. We assume the rose was Lyndsay Smith who swam followed by Shawn Patton on the bike and Kevin O'Neill on the run. Congratulatons to all three.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Iroquois Trail Test 32k

Saturday August 18th was the tough Iroquois Trail Test in Kilbride Ontario. On a beautiful cool morning Kevin O'Neill finished in 2:45 and Keith Lascelles in 2:51 for 8th & 13th places. This is an event which came well recommended (with sly smiles), and lived up to it's billing. Running through a creek (twice) and up and down the Niagara Escarpment a number of times, sometimes over very technical terrain (where walking was a challenge). If you are looking for a great challenge next year then give this one a try.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Are you a Trail Runner

A Quiz... Are You a Trail Runner?

By: Blake Wood, Mary Fuka, Skip Eastman, and Tracey Chmielewski
The following quiz "Are you a trail runner?" first appeared in the RRCA Footnotes, Fall 1995.

1 -Which would you prefer to run:

  • The Boston Marathon in under 3 hours (-1)
  • The Pike's Peak Marathon in under 5 hours (+1)
  • The Hardrock Hundred, and you don't care about the time (+2)
  • A 50k with no T-shirt - it's just a training run (+3)
  • It doesn't have a name, you don't have a number, you hope you'll be back by next week, but you're not particular (+3)

2 -Your condition when you return from your regular run:

  • Sweating (-1)
  • Bleeding (+1)
  • Your blood has thickened from extended exposure to altitude (+2)
  • Blood? Like you have any left? (+3)

3 - Running attire:

  • You don't need bleach to keep your socks and T-shirts white (-1)
  • All your running socks are tobacco brown (+1)
  • Your children empty your socks and pan for gold (+2)

4 - Conditions on the run:

  • You've fallen and scraped your knee on the sidwalk (-1)
  • You've gotten dirt in your mouth or up your nose (+1)
  • You don't fall. If you did, you'd be dead (+2)

5 - Distance:

  • Three miles a day is enough for anybody (-1)
  • You've detoured in a race to top a peak or see what's over the next ridge (+1)
  • You've detoured to see what's over the next mountain range (+2)
  • You've crossed three or more county lines during one run (+3)

6 - Timing your runs:

  • You time your workouts (-1)
  • You record your times (-1)
  • You don't. The extra weight of the calendar is a nuisance (+2)

7 - Running vs. work:

  • You can get in your run at lunch (-1)
  • You have missed a meeting at work because that loop was a little longer than you thought(+1)
  • You have missed more than a day at work because that loop was a little longer than you thought (+2)
  • You use your sick time for those mid-week mountain runs (+3)
  • You use all your vacation time to travel to trail races (+4)

8 - Running through hazards:

  • You stubbed your toe once on a curb (-1)
  • You have had to pull cactus thorns from your shoe or a yucca spine from your shin (+1)
  • You don't bother pulling thorns or spines out unless they've still got a cactus or bush attached (+2)
  • You don't bother to detach the rattlesnake from your body unless it's impeding your progress (+3)

9 - Directions:

  • You have all four of your routes memorized (-1)
  • You carry a topo map (+2)
  • Who needs a map - you're prepared to bivouac (+3)
  • You can live for a week on the contents of your fanny pack (+4)

10 - Run duration:

  • You rarely run more than 30 minutes (-1)
  • You have gotten so lost that someone had to come looking for you (+1)
  • No one really expects you back until next month (+2)

11 - Weather and your favorite run:

  • When it's raining, you run on your treadmill (-1)
  • There are times you can't do your favorite run because of mud or high water (+1)
  • There are times you can't do your favorite run because of falling rocks, wildfire, avalanche
  • danger, or flash flood warnings (+2)
  • There are times you go on your favorite run despite falling rocks, wildfire, avalanche danger, or flash flood warnings (+3)
  • There are times you go on your favorite run because of falling rocks, wildfire, avalanche danger, or flash flood warnings (+4)

12 - Peeing on the run:

  • You look around for a gas station restroom (-1)
  • You can pee anywhere you want on the run (+1)
  • You can pee anywhere you want, and in fact must do so to mark and defend your territory
  • from other trail animals (+2)

Score Yourself:
(<>) Sasquatch speaks of you with awe.

28 Reasons for Running Ultra's

Creative Responses to the question "Why do you run ultras?" or "Why would you want to do that to your body?"
If it gives me happiness and a sense of fulfillment and harms no one, how could I not do it?
You now how some people say, "life is passing way too quickly". Well, during a long ultra you can really slow things down--TIME CRAWLS!
You do a lot more harm to yourself by not exercising than you do by running ultras. Why would you do THAT to yourself?
It's crazy... but other than that, it's kind of fun.
"It curbs my violent tendencies" (especially effective when said while holding a knife, axe or chainsaw)
Any idiot can run a marathon, but it takes a special kind of idiot to run an ultramarathon!
It's no more foolish than chasing a little white ball around a big lawn and trying to hit it into little tiny holes!
I'm running from my fat ass but it's right behind me so I gotta keep running.
If we didn't run like this, how would we know how far we could go?
I do this because it is the only thing I have found (outside of S&M perhaps) that gives me such incredible pleasure and incredible pain that I feel completely connected to my own existence.
Because I'm a bad person and deserve pain, and running a 100 miles is my penance. I know, there is some deep psychological disorder but at least it seems like a healthy outlet for those feelings.
"If you have to ask, you'll never understand".
"I've got dangerously low cholesterol, and the food you eat during an ultra is generally very high in cholesterol. That's why I feel better after a race."
My mother abused me by constantly dropping me on my head.
What? You mean everyone doesn't do this!?
It gives me the chance to practice singing Alice's Restaurant till I get it right.
Don't worry, it only seems kinky the first time.
The drugs, I do it for the drugs.
Because I get to show off my cute butt in those sexy tights.
Hell, I spend $50 to run a marathon and all they have at the aid stops is water.
My wife refuses to tie me down and take a whip to my legs.
The devil made me do it.
To those who know, no explanation is necessary .... To those who do not know, no explanation will suffice.
I do it for the fame and fortune and wild sex from all those ultra groupie women.
How else am I going to reach the finish line, duh?
I just went out to jog a mile and I forgot to stop.
It is just so beautiful- the trails, the sky, the feelings throughout, the joy at finishing.
I haven't found anything else that gives me such a feeling of pride.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon

Tim Hatch & Jamie Neilson travelled to Benton Harbor, Michigan last weekend and competed in the Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon. Congratualtions to both on a job welldone:

Tim - 5:08:19, 35:22 swim, 2:42:33 on the bike and 1:44:02 run

Jamie - 5:17:25, 41 minute swim, 2:42:48 on the bike and 1:44:19 run

Next up, Kentucky for the Ironman Louisville Aug 26th.

Events this Weekend (Aug 11th - 12th)

This weekend is the Barrie Triathlon with a number of members taking part. Also Nancy Chong will be competing in the Coburg Duathlon on Saturday.

Road Race Rankings

The latest Ontario Road Race Rankings have been released - High lights include:
Krista Bolyea 40th female in Ontario in the 10k, and 34th in the 5k.
Chantal Demers 27th in the 5k, and 12th in half Marathon.
Kevin O'Neill 45th place in the Male Masters 10k
Nancy Chong 7th in the female Masters 10k

The seems to be a few omissions in the database though, Krista should be in the half marathon rankings with her 1:29:20 at the Chilly half and Keith Lascelles in the Masters half rankings for his 1:27:19 in the Chilly. For some reason the Chilly half results are not included.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

RoadRunner Akron Marathon Article

Road Runner Akron Marathon: A race with a personal touchIn this age of voice-mail, automated teller machines and other technologies that have, for better or worse, contributed to our increasingly impersonal society, the 5th annual Road Runner Akron Marathon (Sept. 29) provides a refreshing change: a race that prides itself on the personal touch.

By Mark BehanPosted Saturday, 28 July, 2007

Much has changed in the years between the ancient Greek Phidippides hoofing it from Marathon to Athens and the invention of GU energy gels. But much has stayed the same when it comes to what we look for when entering a road race. Sure, PRs are swell, but so is being treated well. And you certainly will be at the Road Runner Akron Marathon.
No, race director Jim Barnett won't make like the marathoning tooth fairy on race-day eve and place chocolate GU energy gels under each runner's pillow. But Barnett will do just about everything else to ensure an enjoyable experience for each race participant. And that includes greeting every runner as he or she crosses the finish line with a congratulatory handshake and thank-you. That's 5,000-plus finishers and sweaty palms and a lot of "personal touches," but that truly is the Road Runner Akron Marathon's modus operandi.
"Every decision we make (in planning and putting on the event) is based on the question: Is it good for the runners?" Barnett said.
As far as greeting every runner at the finish line, Barnett said the practice started in the race's first year when he shook hands and greeted the first runners to finish the race."Next thing you know, more runners kept coming and I just kept greeting everyone until the last runner finished," Barnett recalled. "I feel blessed with the opportunity to say hello and thank the runners. But this is just one of many things that take place on a personal level."
The "personal touches" include sending e-mail thank-yous to all race entrants, answering every inquiry with a personal, not auto-generated, e-mail reply, and putting runners' names, not just numbers, on their race bibs. Like the sit-com "Cheers," everybody will know your name at the Road Runner Akron Marathon!
"It is just another way to further personalize things," Barnett said of inscribing names on bibs. "Around mile 18, runners can start feeling a little mushy. If someone yelled 'Go (random) number!' the runner may ask, 'Is that me?' Instead, people are calling you by name. And that makes runners feel good."
Runners also feel good when they get "stuff" at road races. Mission accomplished at the Road Runner Akron Marathon, where "registration gets you" a pair of $90-95 Brooks running shoes (yes, free shoes), a long-sleeve tech shirt, a Running Times magazine subscription, a goodie bag, free food and Michelob beer at the "fantastic" post race party and more.
"We ask the question, 'What would we like to have after a marathon?' " Barnett said. "Most people would say a good T-shirt and a great medallion. And we give those plus more. A couple of years ago we decided to reallocate the prize money funds to buy shoes for the runners. It's just another personal touch."
The courseOkay, first off, the Road Runner Akron Marathon course is not pancake-flat, for there are some hills in the late stages of the race. But it is not the second coming of the Mount Washington Road Race. It is, in fact, strikingly scenic, well supported, and marked with a blue line that extends the entire 26.2 miles.
Runners will enjoy panoramic views of the Little Cuyahoga River, cross the All-America Bridge, travel through parks, past museums and the old Firestone building and onto the 4-mile Towpath, a crushed limestone path considered to be one of the most eye-pleasing parts of the course.
"The course itself showcases the best of Akron. The Towpath is a historic trail that follows the Ohio and Erie Canal and is very beautiful," Barnett said. "It's a little over four miles (from about 11 to 15 miles) and it gives the runners a nice break from the hard surface."
After exiting the Towpath, runners will pound the pavement through West Akron, where they will be greeted by some of the largest crowds on the course, then return to downtown Akron, past the 25-mile mark near St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, the alma mater of Cleveland Cavaliers hoops hero LeBron James, and towards the "Olympic-style" finish at Canal Park, home of the Double- A baseball team, the Akron Aeros.
"Runners enter Canal Park in (right) centerfield and, as they run toward the finish line, their images are shown on the new scoreboard," Barnett said. "And as they cross the finish line, the public address announcer calls out their names. Runners feel like they just won in the Olympics."
The race course is fully supported with 20 fluid stations, five GU energy gel stations, entertainment spots, portable restrooms, and clocks and markers at every mile and 5K. And cheering fans. Lots of them.
"Throughout the year we are proactive in the community talking about the race. We tell people that race day is a wonderful opportunity (for them) to be ambassadors of the city of Akron and we ask people to come out and support the race. And they do," Barnett said, noting that local newspapers have estimated race-day crowds of 80,000. "Because of the blue line on the course, we have what we call 'Blue-line families' on the route. The blue line goes by their houses and the families host parties on race day with bands and everything."
For detailed course information and to see an impressive video (accompanied by music) of the entire Road Runner Akron Marathon course, visit: http://akronmarathon.org/course.asp

Not just a marathon

In addition to the 26.2-mile race, a half marathon has been added to the Sept. 29 race menu. A two-person relay (15.5-mile and 10.7-mile legs) and a five-person relay will also be held. Prize money is awarded in the marathon to the top five male and female finishers ($2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100) and also to the top three male and female masters ($1,000, $500, $250).
Runners will pick up their race packets, T-shirts, goodie bags and final instructions at the University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo at the John S. Knight Center in Akron on Friday, Sept. 28 (the day before the race), from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The expo is free and open to the public. The expo provides a final registration opportunity for the next day's race. For information on the expo, visit: http://akronmarathon.org/2005-expo.asp
As for fueling up on carbs for the full marathon, half or relay, the Summit Athletic Running Club will host a pre-Road Runner Akron Marathon pasta party on Friday, Sept. 28, at St. Bernard's Social Hall, 44 University Ave., in downtown Akron. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and program at 7 p.m. For information on the pasta party, visit: http://akronmarathon.org/2005-pastaparty.asp

While in town for the Road Runner Akron Marathon, runners should check out the sights of Akron, for there's plenty to see in "The Rubber Capital of the World.""Akron is a great little city. We are about 18 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. It's an exciting place," Barnett said, noting the many restaurants and museums that dot the city landscape.
To see what's going on in Akron, visit the City of Akron attractions website at: http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/attract.html

Lodging

Several hotels are conveniently located near the Road Runner Akron Marathon start and finish, and also in proximity to area restaurants and attractions. These hotels are also offering discount rates to runners participating in the Road Runner Akron Marathon. For information on accommodations, visit: http://akronmarathon.org/accommodations.asp

Come run

Now in its fifth year, the Road Runner Akron Marathon is still a relative New Kid on the Marathoning Block. But with over 2,500 volunteers, terrific community support and a race director and support team that understands what it takes to put on an event for runners, the race has staying power.
"When we started the race, our initial goal was to be in the top-25 ranked marathons in the country and have over 5,000 runners," Barnett said. "Last year we had about 5,800 participating and I think we are probably (ranked) in the top 25."
And with its personal-touch philosophy, the race will continue to improve and gain popularity, for runners in the Road Runner Akron Marathon are viewed as not just numbers, but runners with names (on the race bibs) who deserve to be treated well on race day.
"We care about all the runners on a personal level," Barnett said. "That's important to us."
For information on all aspects of the 5th annual Road Runner Akron Marathon, including on-line registration, volunteer opportunities, detailed course description and more, visit the race's website: http://akronmarathon.org

From www.coolrunning.com

Saturday, August 4, 2007

RoadRunners logo

So how do you like the Barrie RoadRunners logo? After much thought we put together a design that was blended from a number of idea's. We are now looking into the purchae of running gear with the logo. Any comments would be appreciated.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The Top 100 Marathons?

Here is a website that lists the top 100 marathons in what looks like North America (The only Canadian Marathon listed is Toronto) according to readers votes. Obviously this needs to be taken with a grain of salt as there are a number of marathons that I know of that are better than some listed, but it does mention some that are a lot less known. Interesting to look these up, as there are links to the official web sites here as well.

Monday, July 30, 2007

A Challenge for Next Year


How about a 30.5 mile Trail marathon in Jay, Vermont. A race that is not for the faint of heart and which the organizers seem to be discouraging people to sign up for. 4000ft climb in the first 9 miles, 3 miles running through a creek, crossing a 50 ft river, you will get muddy and wet. Where do we sign up! There is a half marathon also (18.5 miles!). July, 2008.


Tuesday, July 24, 2007

The Donegal Creameries Mooathon


Anyone for a 1/2 marathon in Ireland (Brendan!!). Going by the results from last year some of us could win this. 500 Euro's prize money.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Damn Tuff results

Keith Lascelles and Kevin O'Neill had a successful day at the Damn Tuff Ruff Bluff Run in Owen Sound. On a beautiful day on a fairly tough course Keith finished in 8th place in 2:00:29 to take 1st in his age group. Kevin was 10th in 2:04:02 to take 2nd in the same age group, not bad for someone who wasn't at all well.

2 New Ironmen

Shawn Patton and Gary Doiron both completed the Lake Placid Ironnam yesterday (Sunday July 22). Awesome day for both, Shawn completed the race in 12 hours 17 minutes and 51 seconds, Gary's time was 14:44:42.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Owen Sound DAMN TUFF RUFF BLUFF Trail Race

This Saturday is the DAMN TUFF RUFF BLUFF Trail Race in Owen Sound, which is part of the Ontario Ultra series. Anybody planning on going? Other than Keith & Kevin. There is a 25k & a 50k event. In preparation for running trails, something some of us a a little foreign to, Keith & Kevin are running the trails in Midhurst north of the School Board offices at 7 pm ish, if you feel like joining in the fun!

Massey Marathon & Spanish River Half

The Massey Marathon was this past Sunday and conditions couldn't have been better, cool temperatures and sunny. Not a lot of Representatives from Barrie though, Clarence Wang was the top runner from Barrie with a 3:48 in the Marathon followed by Sylive Phillips with a time of 4:33. Neil Phillips ran in place of Oliver Owen in the Half and had a time of 1:49. Congratulations to all. Pictures to come.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

RoadRunner gear

I don't know how far along you are on getting a shirt for the RoadRunners but someone is checking into a Sugoi shirt that was released on a limited basis for Canada in red and white and sports maple leafs on the front in a stylized fashion. I am trying to find a picture on line for you check out and have had no luck so far but will keep trying. We are trying to contact Sugoi directly for more info and availability. We also have some proposed art work (which I know Roger has been working on too) if anyone is interested.

Look forward to seeing what you can get.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Canada Day Races

July 1st saw the annual Canada Day Races unfold in support of The Special Olympics. The events consisted of a 1k run for the kids, 5k and 10k races. Congratulations to all those who took part.

Results

5K
5K Walk
10K
10K Walk

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Running Collage



Do you recognize anyone?

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Where Is This Race?


Any body know where this stunning Race is located. Hint it is 56k and not in Canada.
OK, Long enough.... THe race is the 2 Ocean Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa. On either side of the Peninsular you have the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic.

Runners World's "Life time To do List"

The Life List

Heartbreak hill. the rift valley. a vanful of sweaty teammates. These are just a few of the things you must experience in your lifetime to fully appreciate the history-and the quirky pleasures-of our sport. On your mark...
By John Galvin

Re-create the Greatest Moment in Running

We all know the story by now, but it's worth repeating. On May 6, 1954, 25-year-old Roger Bannister became the first person to do the unthinkable: run a sub-four-minute mile. He did it in 3:59.4 at Oxford University's Iffley Road Track with some 3,000 people cheering him on. You can watch the BBC newsreel of the event on the BBC's Web site (snipurl.com). Better yet, re-create the moment at the legendary Iffley track yourself. The track is open to the public 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends. (Coming into Oxford on Iffley Road, take a left at Jackdaw Lane into the stadium's "car park." (sport.ox.ac.uk) For a modest ?2.50, you can bring your stopwatch, do your four laps, and view Bannister memorabilia, like the original stopwatch and finishing post. Bask in the glory.

Pay Homage to Second

Just over a month after Roger Bannister broke the four-minute-mile mark, you'll remember that Australian John Landy did it, too. And while he lost the quest to be first, he set a world record of 3:57.9 that lasted for three years. Gentleman John Landy is a national hero in Australia where, in 1956, he logged one of the most incredible sports comebacks in the mile national championships. After fellow future Olympian Ron Clarke was tripped up, the favorite Landy jumped over him but then stopped to help Clarke up. "Sorry," Landy said, because his cleats tore into Clarke's shoulder. The two set off again and with the crowd chanting his name, Landy impossibly reeled in the rest of the field-they were 60 yards away-and won the race in 4 minutes, 4 seconds. The 22,000 Aussies in attendance went nuts. If you find yourself in Melbourne, pull your own John Landy miracle and train for the sub-four-mile (okay, maybe sub-six) where he did, at East Malvern's Central Park oval-now called the John Landy Oval. Take tram number five from Flinders Street Station (corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne). Get off at Stop 52 (corner of Wattletree Road, Malvern East). Cross Wattletree Road and you're at Central Park.

Run No Matter What

John Strumsky has run at least a mile every day for nearly 24 years. But it hasn't been easy, or even sane. "About five years ago, I had the flu and it turned into bronchial pneumonia," says Strumsky, president of the United States Running Streak Association (www.runeveryday.com). "I was seeing black spots, I was dizzy, and I started to wonder if someone was going to find me on the side of the road." To be an official streaker, you have to run at least one mile every day for a year. For $20 a year, or $250 for a lifetime, you get the quarterly Streak Registry newsletter. "Some people say it isn't healthy," says Strumsky, 66, an insurance salesman and Marine veteran. "But we have guys who are in their 70s who've run for 20, 30, almost 40 years. Some days you just don't want to run, but you do."

Summit Heartbreak Hill

It's possibly the most storied climb in running-the fourth and last of the so-called Newton Hills of the Boston Marathon. It rises only 100 feet and it's just a half mile long, but its position at mile 20.5 on the course has made it legendary. It was there, in 1936, that Boston icon Johnny Kelley passed race leader Ellison "Tarzan" Brown with a friendly pat. Brown regained the lead on the down side and never looked back. The next day Boston Globe writer Jerry Nason named the hill as the site of Kelley's heartbreak, and it stuck. If qualifying for the Boston Marathon isn't a realistic option, you can still appreciate the challenge of Heartbreak by running the five-mile, four-hill stretch of hills up Commonwealth Avenue. Start at Newton Lower Falls on Route 16 and finish at Boston College. Heartbreak starts 3.5 miles in-when you've hit Grant street, you're on it. At Walnut Street, look to your left and salute the statue of Johnny Kelley, who finished the marathon 58 times and won it twice. Want company? The Heartbreak Hill Striders cover an out-and-back route every Sunday, and they even have a Gatorade brigade providing refreshments. Guests welcome. www.heartbreakhill.org

Be Like Pre

It has been argued that the running craze in America began with an irrepressible University of Oregon runner. When Steve Prefontaine died in a 1975 car crash, at the tender age of 24, he owned seven American track records in the 2000-, 3000-, 5000-, and 10,000-meter distances, and the two-, three-, and six-mile distances-an unmatched record. Other than in the mile, Pre never lost a race at Oregon, and the fans at Hayward Field were known as Pre's People. Inspired? Bring out your inner Pre at the legendary Hayward Field. There's no charge, and you can run anytime except before meets and on weekday afternoons when the track team uses it. Show up on Thursday nights in the summer when the Oregon Track Club hosts its All-Comers Meets, and for $3 you might line up with an NCAA women's champion, a 75-year-old Eugene resident, and a 13-year-old Olympic aspirant. While you're in town, visit Pre's Rock, a memorial site just over a mile from the track to the east in Hendricks Park, and run on Pre's Trail, a 10-K wood-chip trail that winds along the Willamette River in Alton Baker Park. oregontrackclub.org

Run in a Strange Place

"It's the best way to experience someplace foreign," says Randy Wayne White, veteran globetrotter and author of the Doc Ford mystery novels. "I've run in Bangkok, Perth, Cartagena, at the Mayan ruins in Tikal, Guatemala. You see the rhythm of a place in a way you'll never get by traveling in a car." White has learned some lessons the hard way. After a late-night flight into Hanoi in 1978, he couldn't sleep, and set out on a run at the crack of dawn. "I was running by these lakes with people doing Tai Chi and I suddenly realized I had no idea where I was," says White, whose latest book, Dark Light, hit bookstores last year. "I couldn't remember my hotel name, I didn't speak the language, and I had no money. I ran around for hours before I finally found my hotel.

"Run in extremes"

It's a pure experience," says extreme runner Brent Weigner. "It's just you, the elements, and your fellow competitors. I highly recommend it." Weigner, 57, a geography teacher from Cheyenne, Wyoming, has run on Antarctica six times, including the first South Pole Marathon (adventure-network.com), and at the North Pole three times (npmarathon.com). Weigner has also run 150 miles in the Gobi, Sahara, and Atacama deserts (racingtheplanet.com). Still not convinced it's for you? "It's incredibly empowering," insists Weigner, who has also run the Western States 100 (ws100.com) and the Leadville Trail 100 (leadvilletrail100.com). "After you finish something like that you know you can handle anything life throws at you."

Ring in the New Year

There are plenty of ways to kick off the New Year in stride-har, har. The best known resolution run is the four-miler in New York's Central Park that starts when the clock strikes 12 (? nyrr.org). At the same time, the U.S. Marine Corps hosts a 5-K at Camp Lejeune's Onslow Beach, in North Carolina (mccslejeune.com). Oorah! Meanwhile if you want to run in the first marathon of the year, head down to Kingwood, Texas (50statesmarathonclub.com). The most fun, however, is to be had in America's second city, where Universal Sole, a Chicagoland running store, and Goose Island Brewery get together for a 5-K run-and-party combo. Ninety bucks gets you in the race, plus a long-sleeve T-shirt to wear to the open-bar open-buffet New Year's Eve par-tay. "It's also smoke free," says Universal Sole owner, Paul Peters. "And it's one of the few places in Chicago where you can say that." universalsole.com

Coach

"All you have to do is contact your local Special Olympics office and say, 'I am a runner, and I want to work with an athlete,'" says Dave Lenox, vice president of sports and competition at the organization for intellectually disabled athletes. "It will be the most rewarding thing you ever do." Lenox speaks from experience. He's coached several athletes through triathlons and, in 1999, ran the Marine Corps Marathon while training with an intellectually disabled athlete whose PR is an impressive 3:03. The Special Olympics has 5-K, 10-K, half-, and marathon competitions. "But you can do community races or whatever you like," says Lenox. Feel good all around. specialolympics.org.

Stride Like a Gladiator

Ancient Rome's Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) is the great-great-granddaddy of all sports stadiums. In its heyday, between 36 AD and 549 AD, it stood three stories high, with marble arches, gilded-gold adornments, and even skyboxes. There was seating for 150,000 with room for another 100,000 or so-bigger than the famed Coliseum. If you've seen Ben-Hur, you know what we're talking about. Today you, too, can be a savage Roman athlete-well, sort of. The ruins are open to the public, and the 600-meter oval track makes for one of the world's most unique runs. The Circo is located just south of the Coliseum and east of the Tiber on Via dei Cerchi and Via del Circo Massimo. Admission is free. roma2000.it

Run a Marathon in Every State

You don't have to be fast to hit this athletic mark, but you do need perseverance. At two marathons a year that means you'll finish in 2032. Luckily, there are two spirited groups out there to help you along. Both require that you log 10 official marathons before you join, and there's a $10 fee. "We aren't all fast runners," says Steve Boone, one of the founders of the 1,168-member 50 States club. "But we have a lot of fun." The good news: You'll have to run in Hawaii before it's all said and done. And if you're not up for running marathons for the next 25 years, you can do half the distance in half the states. www.50statesmarathonclub.com; 50anddcmarathongroupusa.com; half2run.com.

Run a Team Relay

The premise is simple: Get some friends, get a van, devise a cool name, and expect to run one to three legs over the course of a loooong day. The promise is: fun. The country's largest relay, with 1,000 teams of 12, is the Fred Meyer Hood to Coast, from the top of 11,249-foot Mount Hood to the Oregon town of Seaside (hoodtocoast.com). Other big-time baton-passers are the 200-mile Reach the Beach Relay in New Hampshire (www.rtbrelay.com), and Illinois's 80-mile River to River Relay (www.rrr.olm.net). You won't sleep much, but you won't mind.

Run the Oldest Footrace in the World

It's called the Red Hose Run, and it's a wee little race they've been running in Carnwath, Scotland, for, oh, just the last 485 years, lad. It's a record that, according to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (? arrs.net), makes it the longest still-going road race in the world. Keeping with the old-style ways, there's no prize money, but the victor does get a pair of red woolen socks-same as he did five centuries ago. There's also no registration, or Web site, or phone number, but all comers are welcome to this charming rural burg about 30 miles from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The race is held during Carnwath's Gala Week, in mid-June, so show up at the King George V football pitch ready to run. Previously the race has been 5-K and 3-K. This year it's just a mile, but it's a mile that will put you in running's history books.

Run in Costume

"It's hard not to have fun when people are laughing and cheering you on," says Chris Davis, a.k.a. Da Hulaman. Davis has run 18 Bay to Breakers runs in costume, and has placed in the costume contest six times-with such getups as Inspector Gadget, The Leaning Tower of Pizza, and the Hubble Repairman. His favorite costume run, however, is Run Wild-another San Francisco tradition. "People run in really elaborate getups in this one," says Davis, who shares tips and events at www.hulaman.com.

Run Like a Kenyan

If there's a Mecca for runners, it has to be the western rim of Kenya's Rift Valley, located about 200 miles northwest of Nairobi. Situated at 7,000 feet above sea level, the lush green hills of the Rift Valley are the nature-made training ground for the world's finest runners. Kenyans have won 14 of the last 16 Boston Marathons and 19 of the last 21 World Cross-Country Championships. You can attend an all-star Kenyan fantasy camp of sorts with Micato Safaris (in partnership with Runner's World), which visits Lornah Kiplagat's Iten High Altitude Training Center and Kipchoge Keino's nearby farm and training center, Kazi Mingi. The trip ends at the World Cross-Country Championships in Mombasa. (March 15-25, 2007; micato.com)Kenya too far? In July and August, Camp Marafiki in Santa Fe, New Mexico, holds a fantasy camp, giving you the opportunity to eat, run, and train side-by-side with championship marathoners. (July 29 to August 5; www.kenyausa.com)

Copyright © 2006 Rodale Inc. All rights reserved.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Sunburst Marathon

Kevin O'Neill ran the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday in a time of 3:09, Good enough for 8th overall and 2nd in the Masters division. Way to go Kev. Barrie RoadRunners are mopping up awards all over this spring.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

This Weekend

This weekend has Kevin O'Neill travelling to South Bend, Indiana to run the Sunburst Marathon. Good luck to Kevin, although he usually doesn't need any luck.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Ottawa Marathon Results

Congratulations to those who completed the Ottawa Marathon and/or half marathon.
Here is a list of the Barrie runners results

Marathon

Half Marathon

Buffalo News Marathon Article

Here is todays article from the Buffalo News about the Marathon. There are a few familiar names in it.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Buffalo Marathon Results

Congratulations to all those who completed the Buffalo Marathon & Half Marathon. Barrie was well represented and took home a lot of hardware. Here are the Barrie results:

29th - Keith Lascelles - 3:04:03 - 3rd in age group. (PB)
36th - Brendan Kavanagh - 3:07:03 - 3rd in age group.(PB)
38th - Krista Bolyea - 3:07:15 - 1st in age group.(PB)
72nd - Nancy Chong - 3:22:18 - 1st Female Masters.
105th - Brian Lancia - 3:32:38
157th - Ron Leigh - 3:43:16
176th - Roger Ison - 3:46:39
202nd - Clarence Wang - 3:51:44
209th - Brian Chew - 3:52:30
538th - Janet Ward - 4:48:23

Half Marathon

126th - Scott Whynot - 1:41:48 (PB)

Friday, May 25, 2007

Buffalo Marathon News

Marathon changes course
Route won’t leave Buffalo city limits
(By Budd Bailey Updated: 05/25/07 8:46 AM
Courtesy Buffalo News)

The Nissan Buffalo Marathon in 2007 will be held in . . . Buffalo.
That doesn’t sound like it should be newsworthy, but it is. A slightly new course will greet runners who take off on a 26.2-mile jaunt Sunday at 7 a.m., and it will stay within the city limits.
There will be no more quick visits to Kenmore by runners. The new portion of the route comes in the first half of the race, as it heads south along the waterfront on Ohio Street. The halfway point will be right in the middle of downtown. The course then heads north through Delaware Park and goes as far north as Hertel Avenue before winding its way back toward the finish in front of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
“We had to change the course because Forest Lawn [cemetery] isn’t allowing us in this year,” Race Director John Beishline said. “That means we had to pick up 2.5 miles.
“We decided to eliminate Kenmore as well, and make it an all-Buffalo marathon. We made up the extra miles at the waterfront. It’s prettier. It’s more scenic. The course shows off the waterfront. It might be a little cooler.”
The new course also figures to be a little flatter and faster. The Kenmore portions of the route had been filled with twists and turns. This year’s route should be more direct.
Meanwhile, the half-marathon course starts on Franklin near Chippewa, also mostly winds around the waterfront, and finishes in front of the Convention Center.
The defending marathon champions — Jynocel Basweti and Lynn Dempsey — apparently won’t be back to defend their titles. But several top runners are scheduled to participate in either the marathon or half-marathon:
• Silas Soy of Kenya ran a 2:11:42 in the 2006 Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minn. That’s about eight minutes faster than Basweti’s eventrecord time last year.
• Joshua Koros of Kenya, who ran 2:22:52 in the 2005 Philadelphia marathon, good for second place.
• Retta Feyissa of Ethiopia, second in the 2005 Buffalo marathon (2:26:53).
• Jose Moreira, a masters runner from Brazil with a 1:03 half-marathon time to his credit.
• Jacob Charmar, of Kenya and Chapel Hill, N.C., who finished sixth in 31:01 in a 10-kilometer race earlier this month in Washington.
• Edward Gapak, who won the Brooklyn half-marathon in 2006 with a time of 1:09:21.
• Todd Witzleben, two-time winner of Buffalo’s Turkey Trot. Witzleben, the former Orchard Park star, won the 20K race at the Penn Relays last month in 1:05:43. Witzleben has a 2:21 marathon on his resume.
• Jim Park of Buffalo, who was the top local finisher in 2005 and was second among local runners in 2006 (2:43:18).
• Gina McGee, who has two of the four fastest women’s masters times (2:54:40 and 2:55:34) in the history of the Steamtown (Scranton, Pa.) Marathon.
• Tammy Slusser of Monroeville, who finished second last year in 3:10:21.
• Joseph Illuzzi of Cheektowaga, giving the marathon a try at the age of 86.
The male and female winners of the marathon will earn $2,000 each, while second is worth $1,000 and third pays $500. The masters’ winners of the marathon and the half-marathon winners will earn $500 each, while the first-place masters in the half-marathon will pick up $200 each.
A bonus of $1,000 will go to winners who break the event record in overall or masters competition. The women’s record is 2:44:57, set by Beth Anne DiCiantis in 1991. The masters men’s mark was set by David O’Keeffe in 2001 (2:29:24), while the women’s standard is held by Leslie Carson (2:57:32, 2004).
A relay event of four-person teams also will be staged.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Ganaraska Trail Run

The results for the Ganaraska Trail Runs are finally posted http://ouser.org/results/07/ga07.pdf

Great runs by Eric Jackson (2:00) in 5th place and Nancy Chong (2:10) 1st female. What a couple!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Interesting Marathon Story

Not so fast: Marathon mixup changes most men's placesThird-place finisher didn't run marathon, he ran half-marathonRon Newberry The Olympian
Mark Edin arrived at his son's elementary school Monday to the applause of a teacher. Friends called to offer their congratulations.
"It's been an interesting day," Edin said.
Edin spent most of his day Monday trying to set the record straight about his performance at the Capital City Marathon on Sunday.
Official results listed Edin, 46, of Olympia, as the third-place finisher in the 26.2-mile marathon with a time of 2 hours, 43 minutes and 58 seconds.
Trouble was, Edin didn't run the marathon - he ran the half-marathon.
"We don't know what happened," race director Lesley Roberts said.
Edin figures the mistake occurred because he registered for the marathon but changed his mind and ran the half-marathon instead. He said he informed race officials that he was planning to switch races Saturday and was told to let them know on race day. In the chaos of race day, however, he failed to do so.
"I told them when I picked up the packet that I probably would be running the half-marathon," Edin said. "They said, 'Let us know' that next morning. Of course, the next morning hundreds of people are in the middle of a pack. I had a purple number. I noticed everyone else had green numbers. Maybe, somehow, a glitch happened."
Edin, who recently participated in the Capitol Peak ultramarathon, is puzzled by his time. Runners' times are kept by computer chips on their shoelaces with scans at the start and finish of the race.
How Edin wound up with a time of 2:43:58, he doesn't know.
"I know my time was under two hours," he said. "I asked the guy in front of me. I'm pretty sure it was 1:50 something."
It wasn't long after the race that marathon runners questioned the "mystery" third-place finisher. Roberts said some of the top finishers such as Phil Jasperson (fourth place, 2:47.19) and Miguel Galeana (fifth place, 2:49.55) came to her and said they never saw Edin.
Another race official in charge of the timing system raised a concern.
"When it gets called into question like that I do an automatic disqualification," Roberts said.
Although the mistake was identified, the official results accidently were released with Edin still the third-place finisher. They weren't changed on the Capital City Marathon's Web site until Monday afternoon.
For the record, Paul Abdalla of Duvall (2:50.10) moved into the top five at No. 5.
"These kind of things can happen at any event," Roberts said. "Especially when you have a marathon and half-marathon running together."
Although he was amused by the glitch, Edin said he felt bad about the mixup.
"I was more concerned about the people who got the accolades," he said.
"The proper people should be recognized."

 
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