February 2001 Report

FEBRUARY 20, 2001 RUNNING REPORT

 

THE RUNNING SCENE CANADIAN MASTERS OF THE YEAR – FEMALE

This year, The Running Scene decided to award a Masters of the year Award.  For the Female Award, Nancy Tinari was chosen.  Nancy has had a long and distinguished career as a runner, and having just turned Masters last year, she started making her mark on the running scene.  This year, she topped the 5K, 10K and half-marathon ranking in the Masters, but more impressive, she was 6th overall in the 5K, 12th in the 10K and 10th in the half-marathon.  One of her most impressive accomplishment was the setting of the Canadian Masters record for the half-marathon when she ran in Vancouver in 1:17:04. 

With respect to how she felt about her running this year, Tinari says “I was quite satisfied with my performances in the year 2000.  I was thankful that I was able to race as often and as well as I did since I had Achilles tendonitis most of the year and it flared up badly a few times.  I only had to take ten days off in December for that problem to go away!”  With respect to the many races she ran, she mentions that “ I think my best races were those in which I ran my best times:  The Times-Colonist 10K in Victoria where I placed 2nd in 34:30, and an early Timex Series race in North Vancouver when I ran 16:24 for 5K.  These times were identical to my best race times in 1999.  I suppose that as a Master, running as fast as the year before is achieving success.”  Nancy does not plan to sit idle this year.  She says that: “This year my plans are to do a mixture of the local races and some big American races.  I would race much more in the exciting U.S. road races if most of them weren't in the East--I find travel and jet lag very difficult, so I tend to run my best races at home when I feel great.  This year I hope I can set some Canadian Masters records on the track, in the 5000m and possibly the 10,000m.  This depends on how my Achilles tendon behaves.”

Nancy Tinari was not the only Masters with strong performances.  Diane Légaré was second in performance this year, but considering that she races in the 45-49 category, her performances were stellar.  With already many Canadian age group records to her name, Légaré set a few more records on the road.  She ran a 10 K in 35:48 and a half-marathon in 1:19:03.  She was ranked 2nd in the world by Running Times in the 45-49 category.  Her love of running keeps her running strong every year. 

 

THE RUNNING SCENE CANADIAN MASTERS OF THE YEAR – MALE

The Running Scene has chosen Graeme Fell as Canadian Masters of the Year.  Fell topped the 10K and Half-Marathon ranking with time of 30:11 and 1:08:36 respectively.  Fell competed in many of the major races in the U.S., which allowed him to be ranked by Runners World.  Each year, Runners World keeps track of road race results for a selecting series of races, with most of them held in the United States.  The Ranking that is tabulated is based on a specified point system fro each race.  Graeme Fell placed 5th in the Masters category. 

 

BRUCE DEACON ON HIS PAST YEAR

How would you describe your running this year?

In many ways, I found this year my most frustrating year of running yet.  I was hampered by some injury problems this past winter, and was unable to get the type of build-up prior to NCM that I would have hoped.  Then, the Olympics failed to turn out how I'd hoped.  All in all, it was a bit of a disappointing year.

According to you, what was your best race this year?

I think that my run at NCM was my best race this year.  I entered with less base than I usually have going into a marathon.  I think that the wind probably cost us a couple of minutes.  It was a solid race with some good gritty surges.  Winning a marathon in your home town is always a thrill.

How would you describe your Olympic experience?

My Olympics were a major disappointment.  I got tripped in the first 50 meters and did a nice spread eagle on the road.  After two more real close calls in the first 1km, it was real difficult to settle into a pace.  I ended up getting severe cramps beginning at 15k.  If it could go wrong...it did.  I ended up in 44th in the slowest time I have ever raced in the past decade.

What are your goals for next year?

I hope to run a solid marathon in the spring.  I want to chase a time and am looking at Boston.  I would then like to run a good race at the Worlds in Edmonton.

 

TRUDEAU WINS FLORIDA MARATHON

Masters runner Stan Trudeau was the overall winner of the Florida Marathon.  The race was held on Sunday January 21 in Clearwater, Florida.  Stan won the race in 2:37:11.

 

SUPER SUNDAY FOR CANADIANS

Super Bowl Sunday was a good day not only for football fans, but also for fans of our Canadian runners.  On Sunday January 28, runners descended on Redondo Beach, California to race in the Super Bowl Sunday 5K and 10K races.  In the 5K race, Courtney Babcock won in a time of 16:02.  This followed her earlier win in Bermuda.  In the 10K main event, Olympian Carol Montgomery placed 3rd in a time of 34:38.  This bodes well for Montgomery who crashed during the Sydney Triathlon bike portion.

 

BOYD IN FLORIDA

Steve Boyd returned to a favourite winter running spot as he raced in the Naples Half-Marathon in Florida on January 28.  Boyd who won the race a few years ago, placed 5th this year in a time of 1:05:43.

 

TANIA JONES PLACES IN VIRGINIA

Tania Jones travelled to Virginia for the Hampton Coliseum Half-Marathon held on February 2 in the city of Hampton.  Her trip was quite fruitful as she raced to a 2nd place finish in a time of 1:15:20.  The race was the Road Runners Club of America National Half-Marathon Championship.  Jones earned a $1,000 for her strong performance.

 

LEDROIT GAMBLES ON LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas is the city of gamblers, but it is also the city were people attempt to set Personal Bests in the half-marathon.  Last year, Kimberley Webb raced here to clock a 1:14:11, the year’s fastest Canadian time.  This year, Isabelle Ledroit attempted the distance with a fantastic outcome.  She raced to a 3rd place finish and a clocking of 1:13:33.  It will be difficult for any runner to displace Ledroit from the top spot this year.  Ledroit is showing great form which is promising for the year.

 

STRONG PERFORMANCES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

A few Canadians attempted the Austin Marathon on Sunday February 22 and came out with some fast times.  Tina Connelly ran to a 9th place finish and a time of 2:42:44.  Connelly attempted the marathon distance in 1999 where she clocked the best time for a Canadian that year with her 2:34:44.  Elaine Coburn came in 10th with a time of 2:44:41; Mary Jo Saunders was 12th in 2:46:06; in 14th place, Brenlee Muska came in with a time of 2:49:22.  In the men’s race, Jason Warick placed 16th in a time of 2:23:49, while Neil Holm clocked a 2:26:30 for a 19th place finish.

 

ED WHITLOCK RECOGNIZED

First it was Runners World that recognized the fantastic running abilities of Ed Whitlock as they named him Male Masters of the Year.  Now it is Running Times who have decided to profile the achievements of Whitlock.  In the March 2001 issue, the “Age Group Ace” column is dedicated to Ed and his wonderful achievements this year.  You can also get a better idea of who this phenomena is by reading Saturday Night Online for an in-depth article on Ed.

 

FIRST HALF HALF-MARATHON

In his preparation for a Spring Marathon, Bruce Deacon easily won the first major half-marathon of the year as he raced to a 1:07:47 in the First Half Half-Marathon in Vancouver.  The race was held on Sunday February 11.  In the women’s race, Lisa Harvey was also a clear winner as she beat Masters Runner of the Year for 2000, Nancy Tinari.  One interesting aspect of this race is that more women compete in the event than males. 

Male

 

Female

 

1. Bruce Deacon

1:07:47

Lisa Harvey

1:18:08

2. Norman Tinkham

1:08:23

Nancy Tinari

1:19:14

3. Oliver Utting

1:08:40

Lori Durward

1:19:21

4. Colin Dignum

1:08:42

Janice McCaffrey

1:20:45

5. Anthony Skace

1:13:35

Joan McGrath

1:20:59

Masters

1. Rob Reid

1:14:32

Nancy Tinari

1:19:14

 

RESULTS

January 21 – San Diego Marathon, San Diego, CA

Kate Masters placed 6th in a time of 3:09:03.  Art Boileau placed 10th and 3rd Masters in a time of 2:37:18.

 

January 28 – Richmond Road Races, Ottawa

5K – M1. Brad Lawson – 18:09; F1 – Julia Hicks – 19:17

10K – M1. Chad Pawson – 34:37; F1 – Paula Wiltse – 38:48

 

February 11 – Twosome Run 5K, Kingston, ON

The Twosome Run in Kingston attracts mostly local runners, but with the quality of those runners, this can make for a competitive race.  Steve Boyd, Runner-up of the Year in 2000, won the race in 15:12.  In the women’s race, Sarah Dupre, one of Canada’s young talents, captured the women’s race in 16:39.

Female

 

Male

 

1. Sarah Dupre

16:39

Steve Boyd

15:12

2. Paula Wiltse

18:10

Kevin Beatty

15:35

3. Sue Croswell

18:51

Tim Blackwell

15:46