Hundreds of people from across the Island and beyond laced up their shoes and participated in this yearB次元官网网址檚 Comox Valley Half Marathon on Sunday morning (March 24).
Race director and runner Rob Kelly was delighted by this yearB次元官网网址檚 turnout, noting it surpassed his expectations.
B次元官网网址淥ur old record for the most runners was 600 participants. Today I think weB次元官网网址檙e going to have 800 finishers, so itB次元官网网址檚 a big growth,B次元官网网址� Kelly said. B次元官网网址�(We received) over a thousand registrations.B次元官网网址�
For the past 30 years, this long-standing tradition has been pushing runners to their limits.
B次元官网网址�(This event) is part of the Vancouver Island Race series,B次元官网网址� Kelly said. B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚 a total) of eight races that happen every year, between January and April, in different communities across the Island.
B次元官网网址�(This) is the longest race of the series and itB次元官网网址檚 a very popular one. People like it because you have quite a big climb on the way out, but you have a chance for a very fast returnB次元官网网址� and run the second half faster than the first one.B次元官网网址�
Results
Dusty Spiller, an amateur runner from Maple Bay, was the first to cross the finish line, completing the race shortly after 1:09:00.
B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址檚 run was hard,B次元官网网址� Spiller said. B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 feel good right from the start, but I paced with second place for quite a while. When he dropped off a little bit, I ran scared like the last five kilometres.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted (to finish) about a minute faster, but it was still a personal best for me.B次元官网网址�
Two years ago, Spiller transitioned from triathlon and fully dedicated himself to running. Now, the man has his eyes set on the Vancouver Marathon in May, aiming to complete the race in under 2:20:00.
Shortly after Spiller, Olympian Natasha Wodak was the first female runner to cross the finish line with a time of 1:11:50.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 trying to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics,B次元官网网址� Wodak said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 racing a marathon in Hamburg, Germany, in five weeks to try and run the Olympic qualification standard.B次元官网网址�
With a large smile on her face, the Vancouver athlete told the Record that the race provided her the opportunity to meet her running coach, who lives on the Island.
B次元官网网址�(This is a) good training to get in a really good and hard effort. ThatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what we did and it was a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� Wodak added. B次元官网网址淚t was great to be able to come out here.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very tough course, but itB次元官网网址檚 good to run those courses because they make you tough.B次元官网网址�
Kelly extended his thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors whose help and support made the event a success.
For more information about the Comox Valley Half Marathon and the raceB次元官网网址檚 results, visit .
RELATED:
NEWSLETTER:
