Club/clinic members have been busy with fall racing! Personal Bests are marked when we’ve been notified, if some are missing please let us know.

October 13, 2019: 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon – Half Marathon

2:01:37 Tracy Aiken, Gibsons – 78th, F40-44 *PB
2:14:44 Wendy Morris, Gibsons – 54th, F55-59

October 13, 2019: 2019 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon – 8k

35:44 Edward Aiken, Gibsons – 7th M45-49 *PB
51:37 Bev Craig, Gibsons – 22nd F60-64

October 13, 2019: Bank of America Chicago Marathon

4:16:27 Michelle Von Schleinitz, Gibsons – 786th F45-49 *PB
4:51:22 Trudy Baba, Gibsons – 28th F65-69

October 14, 2019: Granville Island Turkey Trot 10k

48:01 Stephen Rhodes, Gibsons – 19th M50-59
48:04 Alison Rhodes, Gibsons – 3rd F50-59 *PB
51:28 Susan Blair, Sechelt – 3rd F60-69 *PB
1:00:08 Nadine Slingerland, Roberts Creek – 45th F50-59

October 20, 2019: Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department 10k

42:28 Jamie Leveque, Sechelt – 2nd overall
50:20 Alison Rhodes, Gibsons – 2nd Female
1:03:00 Charlotte Goldenberg, Halfmoon Bay

October 20, 2019: Edge to Edge Marathon, Ucluelet – Half Marathon

2:04:42 Mathew Wilson, Gibsons – 6th M37-45
2:16:43 Roberta Sim, Gibsons – 2nd F46-54
2:36:55 Meaghan Spithoff, Roberts Creek – 21st F37-45

October 27, 2019: James Cunningham Seawall Race 10k

40:39 Jamie Leveque, Sechelt – 5th M45-49 *PB
45:23 Teresa Nightingale, Halfmoon Bay – 2nd F50-54
49:03 Alison Rhodes, Gibsons – 4th F50-54
51:26 Mathew Wilson, Gibsons – 7th M40-44
56:23 Trudy Baba, Gibsons – 1st F65-69
56:30 Nadine Slingerland, Roberts Creek – 6th F50-54
58:59 Roberta Sim, Gibsons – 9th F45-49
59:18 Charlotte Goldenberg, Halfmoon Bay – 7th F50-54
1:35:10 Mary Kenny, Sechelt – 17th F55-59

Race #3 of the 5-Dollar 5K Series was all about speed as a number of participants improved their times over the previous couple of weeks. The persistent snow and ice on the trails finally receded enough to allow safe use of the official course, rather than an out and back road-only route. Temperatures were still around the freezing mark with a light wind adding to the chill, but sunshine and blue sky cheered the runners and volunteers.

The top finishers were a repeat of Race #2. Keaton McIlwraith of Roberts Creek significantly improved his 5k personal best with a 19:43 clocking for the win. In second place at 20:50, Jamie Leveque of Sechelt cut 20 seconds off last week’s result — despite a plan to “take it easy” after completing a long marathon training run the day before.

To defend her third place spot, Kallalei Ryden of Gibsons not only had to outkick regular series rival Sacha Stipec of Gibsons, but also her own younger brother Sierra Ryden. The three teens gave it their all as they sprinted to the finish line, crossing just seconds apart, with Stipec in fourth and the younger Ryden in fifth (third male overall).

Gibsons’ Krisztina Harasztosi overcame jetlag to take third female spot in 25:58, having just returned from a visit to her home country of Hungary.

The organizers would like to thank our super volunteers Alison Rhodes, Ann Law, Jamie Leveque, Susan Blair, Randy Eistetter, and Valerie Ryden.

The fourth and final event of the series is Sunday March 10th at PaceSetter, with a 10am start — but it’ll feel like a 9am start as Daylight Saving starts the night before. Join us for some fun running or walking, coffee, snacks and draw prizes!

Results:

Place   Time  Bib  First Name  Last Name   M/F City
============================================================
    1  19:43  417  Keaton      McIlwraith   M  Roberts Creek
    2  20:50  392  Jamie       Leveque      M  Sechelt
    3  21:40  409  Kallalei    Ryden        F  Gibsons
    4  21:43  415  Sacha       Stipec       F  Gibsons
    5  21:45  467  Sierra      Ryden        M  Gibsons
    6  23:10  407  Stephen     Rhodes       M  Gibsons
    7  24:01  395  Darren      Causon       M  Sechelt
    8  24:33  397  Scott       Minch        M  Garden Bay
    9  25:58  405  Krisztina   Harasztosi   F  Gibsons
   10  26:16  393  Donna       Findlay      F  Sechelt
   11  26:51  401  Georgina    Brandon      F  Gibsons
   12  28:25  414  Paige       Davies       F  Gibsons
   13  47:31  416  Mary        Kenny        F  Sechelt

Photos (more on our Facebook page):

The first event of the Spring 2019 5-Dollar 5K Series is in the books! It was a cold but sunny morning with a couple of icy spots on the otherwise snow-less course. Seventeen enthusiastic participants came out to test themselves over the out-and-back route.

Sechelt’s Jamie Leveque was first overall and first male, finishing in 20:54 despite having a week off training due to illness. Second and third overall and top 2 females were Elphi track team members Sacha Stipec and Kallalei Ryden of Gibsons, in 22:06 and 22:14, respectively.

Remaining races in the series are Sunday, February 24, March 3 and March 10. All start at 9am except for the final one which will start at 10am to offset the start of Daylight Saving Time.

Thanks to our awesome volunteers Susan & Randy, Jamie, Nadine, and Cliff!

Results:

Place  Time   Bib  First Name  Last Name      M/F  City
================================================================
    1  20:54  392  Jamie       Leveque         M   Sechelt
    2  22:06  405  Sacha       Stipec          F   Gibsons
    3  22:14  406  Kallalei    Ryden           F   Gibsons
    4  23:37  397  Scott       Minch           M   Garden Bay
    5  25:21  404  Daren       Spithoff        M   Roberts Creek
    6  27:57  401  Michelle    Von Schleinitz  F   Gibsons
    7  27:57  402  Nadine      Slingerland     F   Roberts Creek
    8  28:47  396  Trudy       Baba            F   Gibsons
    9  29:07  400  John        Law             M   Roberts Creek
   10  29:34  448  Elizabeth   Boghean         F   Gibsons
   11  30:08  395  Amy         Perry           F   Sechelt
   12  30:49  407  Carmen      Goojha          F   Sechelt
   13  30:50  408  Ben         Bauer           M   Sechelt
   14  30:57  403  Meaghan     Spithoff*       F   Roberts Creek
   15  35:25  398  Anne        Nikodem         F   Halfmoon Bay
   16  35:25  399  Michelle    Kwasney         F   Sechelt
   17  38:16  393  Kathleen    Colquhoun       F   Gibsons

*with jogging stroller

Over $2000 raised for Chat/Elphi Running Teams and Elves Club

December 9th, Sechelt: The weather outside was frightful — but the participation level at the seventh annual Holiday Hustle 5k/2k was delightful. By Saturday evening there were 135 registrants signed up online, a new record. Despite cold wind and rain on Sunday morning, an additional 21 people registered on site to bring the total to 156, an increase of more than 50% over the previous high of 99, set in 2014.

Online and in-person donations by participants totalled $562 for the Chatelech & Elphinstone Running Teams and $125 for the Elves Club. Net race revenue from entry fees was added to the donations, bringing the Running Teams total raised to $1829 and the Elves Club total to $250.

“The Running Team funds will help pay travel and uniform costs for the team, removing financial barriers to student athletes who want to compete,” said event co-organizer Larry Nightingale, who is the coach for both school teams. “That’s the reason we put on this event and others like it. Not only does it support the student athletes financially, it also provides a venue for kids and adults to discover a love of running, in a fun, no-stress setting.”

The 5k had 84 finishers, led by 3-time past winner and former Chatelech Racing Team member Jordan Wilson of Sechelt in a blazing fast 16:32. Teenager Keaton McIlwraith of Roberts Creek and Masters runner Jamie Leveque of Sechelt took second and third spots overall in 20:05 and 20:34 respectively. Both are PaceSetter Athletic Club members. Leveque was third last year as well, but ran nearly a minute faster this year.

On the women’s side, 16-year-old Kallalei Ryden of Gibsons, who races for Elphinstone and PaceSetter Athletic Club, easily captured first female position with a time of 21:04, placing her 5th overall. Second and third women to finish were Leah Painter of Sechelt in 25:11 and J Klassen of Sechelt in 25:21.

The fastest of 54 finishers in the 2k was 8-year-old Nolan Magnusson in 10:33, chased in by Dayton Tattrie (8) and Callum Storey (9) who were just 12 seconds behind. Right behind the boys was 10-year-old Isla Mackay of Madeira Park in 11:03.

After finishing, participants gathered inside the warm, dry Seaside Centre, festively decorated and filled with the smooth sounds of a jazz duo from Chatelech. Hot coffee, hot chocolate, mandarin oranges and home-baked Christmas treats supplied by sponsors and volunteers were enjoyed by all.

Thanks to many generous donations by local businesses, 38 prizes, valued from $5 to $110, were awarded to participants and volunteers in a random draw. This was the highlight of the morning for many, especially the younger participants, who eagerly crowded around the prize table in anticipation as the numbers were drawn.

More photos, full results and a list of sponsors are available at pacesetterathletic.club/hh5k/.

What’s next: training clinics for the BMO Sunshine Coast April Fool’s Run will be starting up in mid-January — check the clinics page soon for details and registration.

Light rain didn’t stop 44 runners and walkers from completing the 7th annual Halfmoon Bay Fire Department 10k on September 30th. After making their way from Fire Hall 2 to Fire Hall 1, participants were rewarded with custom finisher medals, snacks, draw prizes, and – if they stayed around a bit longer – a burger BBQ made possible by generous sponsorship from Sunshine Coast Credit Union.

Fastest over the challenging hilly course was Nick Duff in 38:44, followed by Jamie Leveque (44:08) and Nolan McKenna (47:34). All three are from Sechelt.

On the women’s side, Michelle Smith took an early lead but couldn’t shake 2016 winner Yoshimi Martin, who took the lead in the second half to win by just 10 seconds in 50:13. Rounding out the top three was Katrina Walters in 52:41. All three are from Halfmoon Bay.

Duff and Martin were each rewarded with a $25 gift certificate from PaceSetter Athletic.

Three HMB volunteer firefighters took on and met the challenge of running the course in firefighter gear: organizer James Sas, Ben Borowski, and Bo Xaveriss.

Participants could make a donation to the HBVFD when registering, and a total of $350 was raised that way.

Net proceeds from entry fees will be donated to the Chatelech and Elphinstone running teams.

Full results are available here.

Photo gallery is on Facebook.

Thank you to all who participated in this fundraiser event, including the volunteers from the fire department and the community, and the event sponsors!

We were expecting a modest turnout for the 11th annual Four Lakes 10k & 3k at Katherine Lake Park on Sunday August 12th. But a slew of race morning sign-ups, mostly 3k family entries from the on-site campground, nearly doubled the registration count.

By the time the race was about to start, 39 runners toed the line for the 10k while another 26 were ready for the 3k Family Fun Run & Walk.

The cool, cloudy morning allowed runners to really push the pace after weeks of subdued training in blasting heat. A sprinkle of overnight rain was just enough to keep the dust down and wash off the surrounding foliage.

Overall winner Emilie Plante

Fastest over the scenic 10k course was Vancouver’s Emilie Plante in the Open 20-39 category, leaving all the men and other women behind to cross the line in 42:58. Half a minute behind her was the first male, Rick Roberts from Earls Cove, in the 50-59 age division. Just 20 seconds later, Sechelt’s Jamie Leveque crossed the line in 43:50 to win the M40-49 age group and set a new personal best.

Second woman overall was Surrey’s Colleen Shulze, who picked up the pace in the second half to end up in 7th place overall and first in the F40-49 category. Halfmoon Bay’s Yoshimi Martin edged out Vancouver’s Leanne Karnehm by 5 seconds for third female honours, winning the F50-59 division in the process.

Of note, Shulze’s son Landon outran his mum by nearly 2 minutes to finish 6th overall in 47:09, an outstanding result for an 11-year-old!

The rest of the Schulze family (kids Sophia and Houston, followed by dad Kevin) continued their winning ways, being the fastest to complete the 3k Family Fun Run & Walk, a full five minutes ahead of everyone else. No awards are presented in the 3k so times and order of finish are just for bragging rights.

Full results and many photos can be found at pacesetterathletic.club/4lakes/.

Next event hosted by PaceSetter Athletic is the start of the 2018 5 Dollar 5K Series, at 10am on Sunday August 19, part of the store’s 2-year anniversary weekend celebration. Race day sign up will start at 9am at PaceSetter.

With 144 finishers this was the second largest turnout so far (just shy of last year’s 161). Results are available on the Sea Cavalcade website and photos have been posted on the Sea Cavalcade Facebook page. Congrats to all finishers and especially to our club members who placed in their age group (or nearly did), and got personal bests!

Next event is the Four Lakes 10k & 3k on August 12 at Katherine Lake Park, Garden Bay. Register early and save!

Congrats to the 39 runners who came out and braved the heat for The Bricker 8K on Sunday July 15th! Huge thanks to our volunteers too!!

Winners of the Bricker 8k, James Montgomery and Donna Findlay

The distance was 8.4k and included 2km of trails. First overall and way ahead of the field was James Montgomery of Vancouver in 34:25, followed by John Jackson of West Vancouver in 37:39 and Keaton McIlwraith of Gibsons in 38:31.

The top three women finished 8th, 9th and 10th overall. First was Sechelt’s Donna Findlay in 45:45, then Roberts Creek’s Celia Clare in 47:08, and Sechelt’s Carmen Goojha in 47:18.

• Full results
• Photos on Facebook

Montgomery and Findlay were each rewarded with a growler from The Bricker for their efforts. Lots of draw prizes from PaceSetter and 2 more growlers from The Bricker were given away to lucky racers and volunteers.

The grand draw prize of a pair of Brooks shoes from PaceSetter was won by Benjamin Bauer of Sechelt, whose number was drawn among the 21 participants who completed 3 or 4 out of the 4 series events. A total of 13 runners did all 4 events.

Many participants stayed around after the finish to enjoy cider in the relaxed atmosphere at the venue, which features a grassy picnic area with tables and umbrellas. A bonus was The Manor Born food truck, a very welcome addition to The Bricker, serving a Racers’ Special scrambled egg dish with salmon and goat cheese, as well as pizza and desserts.

Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for more photos!

Next up: Sea Cavalcade Mile (July 28) and Four Lakes 10k/3k (August 12), followed by the 2018 5-Dollar 5K Series (August and September dates TBA).

The Gibsons Tapworks 5K saw a big jump in participation numbers over the first two events, with 50 finishers compared to 36; the series seems to be catching on!

Chantelle Abma and Rian Mizzi, winners of Gibsons Tapworks 5K

Fastest on the out-and-back-plus-loop course in Gibsons Landing were Rian Mizzi from Burlington (Ontario) in 19:58, and Chantelle Abma of Edmonton (Alberta) in 25:35. Rian finished second in the Canada Day 10.1K at The 101 last weekend; this was his first time winning a race outright. Both winners were rewarded with growlers from Tapworks.

Rounding out the top three on the men’s side were Elliot Wadge in 20:27 and Darren Causon in 20:56, both from Sechelt. The women’s runners-up were Kyra McRae of Gibsons in 25:59 and Susan Blair of Sechelt in 26:18.

The youngest finisher was 9 year old Elliott McCauley of Gibsons, who literally left some adults in the dust while sprinting for home to an impressive 27:49, good for 21st overall.

• View full results here
• Photos on our FB page and Instagram

Participants and organizers enjoyed the newly upgraded and beautifully landscaped Armours Beach Park for the start/finish area, with new picnic tables, flat grassy tiers, and easy access from Marine Drive. At least one racer took a cooling dip in the ocean right after finishing.

After consuming the traditional post-race watermelon and cookies, everyone headed back up to Tapworks to redeem their complimentary drink tickets, exchange race stories, and participate in the prize draw from PaceSetter.

Next and final event in the series is next Sunday, July 15 in West Sechelt, the Bricker 8k (actually 8.4k) at the Bricker Cidery on Norwest Bay Road. Start time 10am. Register online and save! Series t-shirts are still available for purchase, $18 each at PaceSetter and at the races.

Under perfect conditions on the morning of July 1st, 36 mostly red-and-white-clad runners looped through the roads and trails of Upper Gibsons for the Canada Day 10.1K at The 101. The final 2km challenged everyone with a climb up the Mahan Trail. What goes down must come up….

Will Rice and Ginny Blattler, winners

Leading the way were junior runner Will Rice of Powell River (43:35) and masters runner Ginny Blattler of Gibsons (50:46), who were each presented with a growler from The 101 Brewhouse + Distillery. (Will, who is only 16, gave his prize to his father, who also raced — we hope he received something in return!)

Rounding out the top 3 were Rian Mizzi of Gibsons in 44:27 and John Jackson of West Vancouver in 44:44 (age 65!); on the women’s side we had Katrina Walters of Halfmoon Bay in 53:01 and Parm Mann of Gibsons in 53:40 taking second and third, respectively.

Participants enjoyed post-race libations at The 101 and draw prizes from PaceSetter Athletic, with an additional free beer awarded to Rinette Lagace for finishing within seconds of 1:01.

• Results are here
• Photo album on Facebook

The Series continues this Sunday July 8th with the Gibsons Tapworks 5K. That will be a flatter course!

Congratulations to all finishers of event #1 of the inaugural Sunshine Coast Brewery Run Series! Under rather warm conditions on Father’s Day, 36 participants headed out at 10am from Persephone Brewing Company’s Beer Farm, on an undulating course which included both road and trail portions.

Overall winners Rachel McKenzie and Darren Causon

Early leaders were Gibsons’ Tamas Mihalyi and Sechelt’s Jamie Leveque, but the order was shaken up in the second half by several strong finishers. Sechelt’s Darren Causon thought he had the win in hand but was overtaken in the final stretch by Rachel McKenzie of Roberts Creek, 20:30 to 20:37. Leveque held on for third overall in 21:13, followed by third male Levon Schmidt of Roberts Creek in 21:35.

Second and third women to cross the line were Carmen Goojha of Sechelt in 25:13 (8th overall) and Donna Findlay of Sechelt in 25:51 (10th overall).

• View full results here

Participants enjoyed post-run fruit and cookies and a complimentary beer at Persephone (included with race entry). First overall female and male were presented with refillable growlers (sponsored by Persephone), and everyone had a chance to win one of a number of draw prizes donated by PaceSetter.

Next event in the 4-race series is on July 1st: Canada Day 10.1k at The 101 – at The 101 Brewhouse + Distillery on Gibsons Way. Pre-register online for just $15 and save $5 over day of race entry fee.

More photos:

A perfect morning for a run, partly cloudy and cool, with the sun warming things up afterward. A small but enthusiastic group came out to challenge themselves over 5k in upper Gibsons, starting and finishing near PaceSetter. Great job by all. Thanks again to Michelle for volunteering, and to Barry for post-race snacks. Barry was also the fastest runner! Results can be found here.

See photos on Facebook

Next and final event of the series is happening September 10 at Persephone Brewing. Grand Prize will be drawn then too! (anyone who has done 4 or more events in the series will have their name entered)