Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 Staff
You would have to go the distance to find someone more qualified than Bruce Deacon to handle online training for the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon.
Deacon competed for Canada in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games and is the only three-time winner of the California International Marathon. He led the Office of the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2010 Summer Olympics, and remains active as a coach and sports consultant. Deacon likes to point out as well that heB次元官网网址檚 been told heB次元官网网址檚 the only one who will ever hold best times in the 8k, 10k, half and full marathon for the GoodLifeFitness Victoria Marathon. B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 only because they dropped the 10k,B次元官网网址� he added with a laugh.
READ ALSO:
The Saanich resident traces his love for the sport back to a summer camp he attended growing up in Ontario when he was 11. In what he describes as a classic case of small-world syndrome, Frontrunners owner Rob Reid was at the same camp working as a camp counselor. Kids who joined a running club at the camp and met the distance requirements would earn a T-shirt, which intrigued Deacon.
B次元官网网址淩ob introduced me to the sport and I was quite taken by that,B次元官网网址� Deacon recalled in a telephone interview from Ottawa where he was visiting family after watching some of the athletes he coaches perform at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Montreal. B次元官网网址淚t was the start of a lifelong love of running, and itB次元官网网址檚 been a great sport for me. I started when I was 11 and here I am in my 50s, still as passionate about it as when I started.B次元官网网址�
This year marks the 11th time Bruce Deacon is handling online training for the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, Oct. 13.
B次元官网网址淲e changed the way we did it in the past last year and moved onto a Facebook group to engage more people,B次元官网网址� Deacon explained.
About 1,400 participants have signed on for the free service this year to access training tips and prepare for this yearB次元官网网址檚 races. Pre-race nutrition is another of the topics discussed. While Deacon was quick to stress heB次元官网网址檚 not a dietician, heB次元官网网址檚 happy to suggest some online sites and articles on nutrition that may be helpful.
Although the race is billed as a chance for many to improve personal bests and aim toward qualifying for the Boston Marathon, the training tips are geared to all levels of participants. B次元官网网址淟ots of people are new to the sport,B次元官网网址� Deacon said. B次元官网网址淭hey may be taking it from a jog or a walk to an 8k, half or full marathon. WhatB次元官网网址檚 great about the Facebook group is that everyone has the opportunity to ask questions. That sparks discussions and provides the kind of one on one beginners often need.B次元官网网址�
The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon celebrates its 40th event this year, and has grown to the point where itB次元官网网址檚 considered one of the largest sporting events on Vancouver Island.
More than 8,000 participants are expected to take part in the full marathon, half marathon, 8k road race and rhe Thrifty Foods Kids Run.
Run over to for more on the event, sponsors and related information.
rick.stiebel@goldstreamgazette.com
Like us on and follow us on
