UclueletB次元官网网址檚 Edge to Edge Half Marathon and 10 km made a stellar return on Sunday, Oct. 16 after being dormant for the past two years.
With 650 runners entering the event, race director Seika Anderson says the 2022 Edge to Edge was the biggest itB次元官网网址檚 ever been as the Half Marathon.
B次元官网网址淭he race used to start at the Village Green and this year we switched the start and finish line to the community centre, which was wonderful because we had everything under one roof and our athletes had the opportunity to see our community centre. I had many compliments on what a gorgeous community centre we have,B次元官网网址� said Anderson, noting that it also gave the Chamber of Commerce the opportunity to host an indoor market place at the same time.
Runners from all over Vancouver Island and B.C. laced up for SundayB次元官网网址檚 races with the most athletes, 74 total, coming from Ucluelet. There were also competitors from Yukon, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Texas, Washington and even Hawaii, Germany and England stoked to take on the notoriously challenging route that features sections of UclueletB次元官网网址檚 famous Wild Pacific Trail.
In the Half Marathon, Cameron Kroeker of Kelowna crossed the finish line at 1:37:46 to claim the top overall spot and Rachelle Etheridge of Campbell River cruised her way to the top female spot at 1:41:55.
B次元官网网址淭here were definitely a lot of hills, but it was nice trail running. The Lighthouse Loop and coming back into the forested area was a lot of fun and just good trail running. It was nice. Given all the elevation, I was pretty happy with my time. I was expecting to be a little bit faster if it was a bit of a flatter course, but there was more elevation than expected,B次元官网网址� said Kroeker, 28, noting that this was his first time visiting Ucluelet.
Courtenay super couple Justin Verburg and Janelle Hanna nabbed the 10 km titles with times of 43:29 and 47:39. The 27-year-olds told the Westerly they met while running in college. This was their first-time running the Edge to Edge.
B次元官网网址淚t was a good mix of trail and road running,B次元官网网址� said Verburg.
B次元官网网址淚 was a bit worried about the hillsB次元官网网址t rolls so you get the downhills as well. They werenB次元官网网址檛 as bad as I felt like when we were walking the trail the night before. We were both happy with the times,B次元官网网址� said Hanna.
UclueletB次元官网网址檚 own Daniel Rodriguez, 40, placed second overall in the 10 km at 48:45. He also won the menB次元官网网址檚 37 to 45 category, sharing the podium with fellow locals Sheldon Vos and Jordy Evans.
B次元官网网址淜nowing the corners on the Lighthouse Loop helped. ItB次元官网网址檚 probably the most challenging part of the route and it definitely gave me hometown advantage,B次元官网网址� said Rodriguez. His wife, Ucluelet realtor Laura Noges, cruised to first place in the female 37 to 45 category of the 10 km race. Rodriguez said it was her first race ever.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 stoked. She did a training plan and stuck to it. You could really see improvement week after week,B次元官网网址� he said.
After, Anderson said the weather for race day was nice and sunny with a coastal breeze offering runners cooling relief.
B次元官网网址淎 huge thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers. We couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it without the 60 volunteers all 40 local businesses that sponsored the event,B次元官网网址� said Anderson.
The 2023 Edge to Edge Half Marathon and 10 km are slated for Oct. 15. It is still unclear as to whether or not the Full Marathon will be included on the schedule of race events.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to next year, and if there is a marathon, IB次元官网网址檇 sign up,B次元官网网址� said Rodriguez.
nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca
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