BVH 5k - August 2012

The hot weather brought out the crowds, flocking to see their favourite BVH stars battle it out over 5k.  At times the scene resembled the Tour de France with crowds on both sides pushing for a glimpse of Jensen or a flash of Twa and barely enough room for the runners to get through.  At least I think they were there to cheer us on and not to watch Shakespeare in the Park.  One lady in particular gave us all a warm glow when she encouraged us on with a shout of "Get off the public footpath!" 

The race had some quality in it.  A group  of 7 quickly got away and looked magnificent.  Entering the last lap this was down to 3 and with about 800m to go it was between Deere and Bickley.  One was clearly suffering more than the other.  Into the final straight they were still neck and neck (like that Chicago marathon - you know the one) until finally Bickley's 800m speed showed through and he pipped Deere to the post.  I will not ruin Ed's day by telling you which Bickley won.  (Although the phrase "Bickley sandwich" was used at the end to describe the race).

To the actors who had to compete with my bike bell and shouts of "Runners coming through": I doth apologise.  To the girls who spoke to us at the end: See you next time!  To the lady whom we apparently inconvenienced by all of half a second: Happy Christmas.  To anyone who wasn't there: Did I mention I'm going to the Olympics?

The results I managed to get were:

1.  Brad Bickley - 16.05
2.  Jeremy Deere - 16.06
3.  Captain Morgan
4.  Spencer
5.  Travis Cummings
6.  Ryan Twa
7.  Scott Jensen
8.  Jody Draude - 16.32
9.  Frank Woolstencroft - 16.58*
10.  Darcy Bell - 17.26
11.  Felix - 17.41**
12.  Jason Reed - 17.55
13.  Bob Banks - 18:00
14.  Kevin Lindland - 18:03
15.  Adam Kahtava - 18:19
16.  Ed Bickley - 18:54.

*Having done a half Ironman on Sunday (see that, Haddow?!)
**All the way from Ontario having done a hills session just before the race.

BVH 5k - July 2012

Unofficial Report by Scott Jensen

Here's what I can remember, but I could be off a bit:


1. "Captain" Morgan Titus - 16:16ish
2. Scott Jensen - 16:21
3. Travis "There are three types of people in the world - those who can count, and those who can't" Cummings - 16:29?
4. Jody "Slapping Beaver Tails" Draude - 16:35?
5. Blaine Penny - 16:45
6. Frank Woolstencroft - 16:59
7. Darcy Bell
8. Jeff Krar
9. Bob Banks
10. Kevin Lindland
11. Adam Kahtava

Ryan, when you're plotting these times make sure you take into account the limiting factors of wind, altitude, crowds, and distractions from the Bard and pretty girls.

Travis led most of the first two laps, but slowed dramatically at the end of lap two when he was struck by the twin disappointments of having to do another lap and realizing that he wasn't about to run the world's first sub-11 5k. Morgan took over from there and pulled away slightly on the last lap. Apparently I'm the only one who tapers for these races, as it sounds like everyone else was fitting this race in between morning, lunch, and evening runs!

Next race August 1st!

Salomon 4 Trails

So I'm p sure that the rule is that you're not allowed to be proud of good results if you can't face up to the bad ones. Remember when the wheels fell off Jeremy's wagon in Chicago? Well the same just happened to me but I had 2 mountain passes to negotiate in the remaining 11 miles. The 4 trails is a four day stage race in Germany and Austria. You run about 40k per day. This was to be my warm up for the TransAlps in a couple of months but with injury problems over the past 6 weeks and very little running, I decided that I'd just jog the first day of this as a try out. It was still 36k with three serious climbs. The first three miles were great and I led the whole thing and seriously thought I was going to get the top 3 without a problem. I was pushing up the hills, holding back and feeling good. By mile 7 I could barely walk the flats. By mile 14 I had cramps in both legs which hurt so much that I had to keep crouching to stretch them out. It took me 70 minutes to do the next 2 miles and my heart rate was an average of 178. By mile 18 I was throwing up. At the next aid station a doctor looked at me and took my blood pressure (which he said was "unter hundert") and pulled me from the race. How embarrassing. I could blame a lot of things but I'll never really know what went wrong. All I really know is that I got tamed.

BVH 5K June Results

1.  Spencer Pootz - 16.11
2= Morgan Titus - 16.26
2= Ryan Twa - 16.26
4  Jody Draude - 16.30
5  Frank Woolstencroft - 16.38
6  Aaron Swanson - 16.43
7  Nick Haddow - 16.52
8  Jeff Krar - 17.01
9  Paul McCloy - 17.02 (leading the McCloy Family 5k rankings)
10  Darcy Bell - 17.11
11  Blaine Penny - 17.14
12  Kevin Lindland - time unknown
13  Bob Banks - time unknown.

Apparently it's acceptable at Speed Theory to beat your boss.  Spencer showed a clean pair of heels to everyone in the field including his boss, Darcy.  Prize for the best positive split in this race?  Frank.  Prize for the gutsiest move?  Ryan's burst at the half way stage.  Worth watching the video for that alone.

Also, this last weekend Travis won the 5 Peaks 5K in Canmore with Spencer in second.  Duncan won the Run to the Farmers market half marathon despite a dodgy hip.

K100 this weekend, gents.  Rest up.

Video of Tonight's Race

http://youtu.be/9RutV98e-hk

Calgary Race Weekend

One of the worst things about being injured is missing out on race weekends like the one which just took place in Calgary.  Harriers were all over the place, especially near the front of the three main events - the 10k, the half and the full.  Results are not yet out but we have the following unofficial results:

Travis - 5th in the 10k in 33:20
Jeremy - 2nd in the half in 69:58
Frank - 3rd in the half (time unknown)
Scott - 5th in the half in 73 mins
Blaine - 6th in the full in 2:39
Darcy - 7th in the full in 2:41.

There were also a number of Harriers pacing Ed Bickley round to (another) sub 3 hour marathon.  "Just a training run"!

Good running everyone!  And well don to everyone who wore their MitoCanada vest with pride.

Duncan

Track Anyone?

Jody suggested we might want another crack at the track after last season's efforts:

http://www.athleticsalberta.com/sites/default/files/content_files/pdfs/TechPkg/TF/New%20Balance%20Athletics%20Series%202012_0.pdf

Anyone?