Monday, August 29, 2011

Islanders on the Run - Sunday in Quebec City, Yarmouth & Kentucky



Half-Marathon (Marathon canceled by Irene)
367(Place) JAMES MUTCH 1:33:51.7(Chip) 4:27(Pace) 88/8003(Category) 41/2902(Gender)
1678 (Place) GEORGE L MUTCH 1:49:42.4(Chip) 5:12(Pace) 194/5021(Category) 434/2902(Gender)
4238(Place) MARIE-LYNE BEDARD 2:42:03.6(Chip) 7:41(Pace) 552/5821(Category) 422/1599(Gender)
Full Results

"And although not an Islander, Pierre-Andre Cote is a PEI RoadRunner Club member. He is father to Mary Cote and Father-in-law to Chris Matters. I think Mary said he ran with his daughter":

10K
1936(Place) PIERRE-ANDRE COTE 1:08:21.1(Chip) 7:04(Pace) 32/548(Category) 73/1026
1944(Place) SANDRA COTE 1:08:27.3(Chip) 6:52(Pace) 392/520(Category) 1069/1553
Full Results


14(Place) Elaine Burkholder Charlottetown 4:13:58(Time)
Full Results

Sunday, August 28, 2011

2 more Personal Bests - Kent 7Km and the 15K Baglole Scenic Road Run

Kent Building Supplies 7K Run

Saturday, August 27th



It was sunny and 19 degrees.

The Kent Building Supplies 7km Run in Bloomfield. The loop course on Mill River East Rd, Foy Rd and Western Rd.

Mike MacKinnon won the race and Jennifer Pizio-Perry for the top female.

I finished in 25:51, my 7km PB, 2:12 faster than last year and came in 3rd out of 42 runners.

Official Result: 3rd out of 42
7K in 25 minutes, 51 seconds






Desmond Baglole Scenic Road Run

Sunday, August 28th

It was cloud and few showers and 20 degrees.

The Desmond Baglole Scenic Road Run in Millvale. The loop course on Millvale Rd, Old Princetown Rd, Warburton Rd, and New Orleans Rd.

Steve Baglole won the race and Jen Nicholson for the top female.

I finished in 1:04:26, beat my 15km PB, 2:06 faster than Rotary Run For Mikinduri in 2008 and came in 7th out of 73 runners. I got stung on my arm at first half Km.

That's 3 PBs in a row, 25Km, 7Km and 15Km.

Official Result: 7th out of 73
15K in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 26 seconds




Scenic Road Run 2010
Scenic Road Run 2009
Scenic Road Run 2008
Scenic Road Run 2007


Photos from the Desmond Baglole Scenic Road Run (2008-2011)



Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Annual run takes participants through Scenic Heritage Roads

(click to enlarge & read)



MacKinnon just misses personal-best time - First-time participant captures Harvest Festival female title

http://www.journalpioneer.com/Sports/2011-08-21/article-2717960/MacKinnon-just-misses-personal-best-time/1

MacKinnon just misses personal-best time

Mike MacKinnon was the overall winner of the 38th annual Harvest  Festival Road Race in Kensington on Saturday morning. His time in the  25-kilometre event was one hour 32 minutes 25 seconds (1:32:25). Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer

Mike MacKinnon was the overall winner of the 38th annual Harvest Festival Road Race in Kensington on Saturday morning. His time in the 25-kilometre event was one hour 32 minutes 25 seconds (1:32:25).

Published on August 21, 2011
Jason Simmonds

Record field tackles "Killer Course"

KENSINGTON - Mike MacKinnon of Miscouche collected his second Harvest Festival Road Race victory here Saturday morning, and just missed setting a personal-best time in the process.

The 38-year-old automotive teacher at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside stopped the clock in one hour 32 minutes 25 seconds (1:32:25). MacKinnon finished 2:33 ahead of last year's winner, Steven Baglole, who checked in at 1:34:58.

"It's one run you can't come to unprepared," said MacKinnon, who was just three seconds off his Harvest Festival standard. He won the 2008 race in 1:32:22 in what he described as much better conditions.

"Some think it was nice and cool (on Saturday), but it wasn't," explained MacKinnon. "It was hot and humid, and the wind was on your back.

"It wasn't a strong wind, but a wind like today (Saturday), when it's not strong, would be better in your face to help keep you cool."

Elita Rahn of Carters Point, N.B., near Saint John, was the top female runner (see story below). Her time of 1:48:40 was good enough for ninth overall in the record field of 79 runners in the 38th annual run. It was the third year in a row the race drew a record field.

"Killer Course"

The 25-kilometre "Killer Course" begins in Stanchel, and runners are challenged by some steep hills right off the bat leading into Kinkora. The course continues through Freetown and Kelvin Grove, with the finish line in front of Community Gardens.

"I tried to go out relatively non-aggressive, but with being steady in mind," said MacKinnon, who led at all five water stations. "But when you finish the (early) hills they are not over.

"The Kinkora ones are over, but there are still rolling ones, you have Scales Pond and you hit the last one just off the Blue Shank Road. The hills never stop."

"Some think it was nice and cool (on Saturday), but it wasn't. It was hot and humid, and the wind was on your back. It wasn't a strong wind, but a wind like today (Saturday), when it's not strong, would be better in your face to help keep you cool." - Mike MacKinnon

Key point

A key point in the race, said MacKinnon, was near the Ultramar in Freetown.

"I was struggling (there), the heat was getting to me, I was drinking Gatorade and I needed water," said MacKinnon. "I said, 'I'm just going to turn here and see how far the gap is.'

"I was at the top of the hill and Steven Baglole, to me in my view, wasn't that far behind me. He was just at the bottom of the hill. I said, 'OK, I have to do something here or it's probably going to be over. He's a tough runner.'

"I just picked up the pace a bit to try to deter him because it's a little Z-turn, and then you go downhill on the Kelvin Grove Road I think it's called.

"I wanted to deter him whenever he got back on that road and got me in sight. I was hoping that there would be a big enough gap to deter him."

jpsports@journalpioneer.com

Awards

Harvest Festival 25K Road Race awards:

Top Three Males

Mike MacKinnon 1:32:25

Steven Baglole 1:34:58

Aron Croken 1:39:20

Top Three Females

Elita Rahn 1:48:40

Kristy Newson 1:49:32

Natalie Dallaire 1:53:49

Top 50-Over Runner

Gary Simmonds 1:51:26

Most Dedicated Runner

Evelyn Turcotte 3:16:30


http://www.journalpioneer.com/Sports/2011-08-21/article-2717958/First-time-participant-captures-Harvest-Festival-female-title/1

First-time participant captures Harvest Festival female title

Elita Rahn was the top female in the 38th annual Harvest Festival  Road Race on Saturday morning. Her time in the 25-kilometre event was  one hour 48 minutes 40 seconds (1:48:40). Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer

Elita Rahn was the top female in the 38th annual Harvest Festival Road Race on Saturday morning. Her time in the 25-kilometre event was one hour 48 minutes 40 seconds (1:48:40).

Published on August 21, 2011
New Brunswick runner had heard about challenging race before

KENSINGTON - Elita Rahn had a successful weekend running the roads of Canada's smallest province.

"I looked on the race calendar for Run P.E.I., saw there were a lot of races over here this weekend and thought it would be a nice little weekend adventure to P.E.I. at the same time," said Rahn.

After finishing second in the female category of Friday morning's Gold Cup Trot five-kilometre run in Charlottetown in 19 minutes one second (19:01), Rahn had a successful debut in the 38th annual Harvest Festival Road Race on Saturday morning.

The 35-year-old from Carters Point, N.B., just outside of Saint John, was the top female runner in the 25-kilometre event. She finished ninth overall in a record field of 79 runners, just ahead of 10th-place finisher Kristy Newson.

"The girl (Newson) who was second was not behind by much," said Rahn, who was also considering running the 5K portion of the Alberton Fun Run on Sunday. "The last mile, I looked back and could see her."

Just how close were they?

Rahn's time was one hour 48 minutes 40 seconds (1:48:40) while Newson finished in 1:49:32.

Took over lead

Rahn took over the lead about "eight or nine miles" into the race, and felt one key to her victory was taking it easy through the early steep hills in Stanchel and Kinkora. The race continued through Freetown and Kelvin Grove, finishing in front of Community Gardens in Kensington.

"I looked on the race calendar for Run P.E.I., saw there were a lot of races over here this weekend and thought it would be a nice little weekend adventure to P.E.I. at the same time." - Elita Rahn

"Normally I would go out like a scared rabbit because I'm competitive," said Rahn. "I have not run this distance, so I thought I would run real easy.

"Once I got through all the hard hills I thought, 'That's not so bad, I don't feel so bad now.'

"And I just kept going."

Rahn also heard about the challenging Harvest Festival race from former course record-holder Alex Coffin, who resides in Saint John.

"He told me about this Kensington 'run from hell' or whatever for all the hills," said Rahn.

So, what were Rahn's thoughts on the course?

"It's a great course," she answered. "There are some nice challenging hills off the start, and if you are not smart about it you could be in a lot of pain halfway through.

"The first half is really challenging, a lot of good up-hills and down-hills."

jpsports@journalpioneer.com


Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Gold Cup Trot & a 25K PB at the Kensington Harvest Fest

Gold Cup Trot
Friday, August 19th

It was cloudy and 19 degrees.

The Gold Cup Trot at Victoria Park. The loop course on Victoria Park, Brighton Rd, University Ave and Old Charlottetown along the parade route.

Daniel Lewis won the race and Grace Annear for the top female.

I finished in 18:03 and came in 7th out of 155 runners.

Official Result: 7th out of 155
5K in 18 minutes, 3 seconds

Results Gold Cup Trot 2010
Gold Cup Trot 2009
Gold Cup Trot 2008
Gold Cup Trot 2007
Gold Cup Trot 2006
Gold Cup Trot 2005
Gold Cup Trot 2004



====*====
Kensington Harvest Festival 25K
Saturday, August 20th

























It was Cloudy and 20 degrees.

The Kensington Harvest Fest 25km at Free Church of Scotland. The course on Stanchel, Rose Valley, Shamrock, Kinkora, Freetown, Mill Valley and Kensington.

Mike MacKinnon won the race and Elita Rahn for the top female.

I finished in 1:48:33, beat my 25km PB, 9:14 faster than last year and came in 8th out of 79 runners. I won a great pair of shoes!

Official Result: 8th out of 79
25Km in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 33 seconds

Results

Kensington Harvest Fest 2009
Kensington Harvest Fest 2008
Kensington Harvest Fest 2007
Kensington Harvest Fest 2006
Kensington Harvest Fest 2005
Kensington Harvest Fest 2004


Saturday night was my grandmother's surprise 85th birthday party!
Happy Birthday Nannie!

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Another 10K Personal Best - Source for Sports 10K

It was sun and cloud and 18 degrees.

The Source for Sports 10km at Summerside Intermediate School. The loop course on Central Street, Old Summerside, Water Street, Macewen Rd, and Grenville Street.

Mike MacKinnon won the race and Hanna Walker for the top female.

I finished in 37:46, beat the 10km PB, 31 seconds faster than last month's Cox and Palmer Run and came in 4th out of 90 runners.

Official Result: 4th out of 90
10K in 37 minutes, 46 seconds


Results

2010 Source for Sports 10K
2009 Source for Sports 10K
2008 Source for Sports 10K
2007 Source for Sports 10K
2006 Source for Sports 10K
2005 Source for Sports 10K
2004 Source for Sports 10K




Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Mount Edward Grocery Memorial Run - 2nd Place on a New Course

It was sunny and 17 degrees.

The Mount Edward Grocery Memorial Run at Hashem's Variety. The loop course on Confederation trail, UPEI, and Mt. Edward Rd.

Andre Blow won the race and Jennifer Pizio-Perry for the top female.

I finished in 29:50 and came in 2nd out of 72 runners.

Official Result: 2nd out of 72
5 Miles / 8 Km in 29 minutes, 50 seconds

Results






2010 Mt. Edward Grocery Run

2009 Mt. Edward Grocery Run
2008 Mt. Edward Grocery Run
2007 Mt. Edward Grocery Run
2006 Mt. Edward Grocery Run

2005 Mt. Edward Grocery Run
2004 Mt. Edward Grocery Run

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Erin Poirier completes her long run around The Gambia

Erin Poirier

completes her long run around The Gambia

Posted on August 3rd, 2011 by Matt Smith at The Gambia Blog

We’ve been keeping close tabs on Erin Poirier as she ran her way across The Gambia (all 424km of it!). She was running for the Nova Scotia Gambia Association, a Canadian charity looking to raise awareness of issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, and she has kept a detailed diary on her blog and her and her team have taken some astounding photographs which you can see on her Facebook page. And the important bit – you can still donate to the project at love4gambia.com. Before she went, Erin kindly said that we could reprint any of her blog entries as she went, but in truth it’s all so evocative and so beautifully put down, it seems a shame to isolate any of it – so go to the site and read the lot!

That said, one of her final posts, on a (well earned) rest day at the Leybato Guest House, Fajara Beach is so wonderful and so moving, we thought we’d share some of it here. All images are taken from the Love4Gambia Facebook page

Erin and Team Gambia

Erin and Team Gambia. Image from Love4Gambia Facebook Page.

“Sunday, August 1, 2011, 1030am

Leybato Guest House, Fajara Beach

On Tuesday, July 26, around 1030am, I ran into the Altantic Ocean after running 424km across The Gambia. I ran made it to the ocean because I always believed that I could. And because I had my team: Ashley Sharpe, Pa Modou Sarr, Kebba Suso and Spider (Dodou Bah), with me and behind me every step of the way.

WE DID IT!!!”

Ashley and I have been relaxing on the beach and we’ve been processing the incredible experience that we’ve just had together with Pa Modou Sarr, Kebba Suso and Spiderman Dodou Bah.

In “Running the Sahara,” Charlie insightfully states, ‘this experience was so big that I can’t fit it into my head.’ We relate to that.

Ashley and I have been keeping a list of what we’ve run through, what we’ve been through… for our own memory bank as we try to fit experience into our heads.

We are so lucky that we ran through pretty much everything that West Africa had to offer. You’ll see just how lucky we were, as follows.

Roadworks, Gambia style

Roadworks, Gambia style. Image taken from Love4Gambia Facebook page.

We ran through:

A wedding
A funeral
A naming ceremony (remember all Muslim events, we are in a Muslim country)
Refugee processing near the Casamance (Senegal) conflict
3 presidential convoys
1 presidential convoy causing a monster traffic jam in Serrekunda requiring us to run through heart and centre of said traffic jam
1 presidential convoy in Soma that caused a stampede exactly where we were standing in which a young girl got trampled. Our guys, Kebba and Pa Modou, turned into American football players instantly, bear hugging and protecting us in a huddle.
Dirt road
Paved road
Partially paved road
Side of road
Road with monkeys
Road with bushrats
Road with snakes at pee stops
No roads with nile monitor lizards, thank God
Rain
Never enough rain
Sun (34-35 degrees)
Hotter sun (37-38 degrees)
Hottest sun (42 degrees)
Humidity- worse than hottest sun
Humidity and sun so hot that on the last day in Banjul, as I stood motionless next to our truck as we waited to begin, I felt cold. It was 29 degrees. The weather was “cool” for The Gambia. In that moment, I knew that my brain’s temperature recognition was thoroughly messed up.
2 pairs of melted sneakers
We ran through more than these “things:” events, roads, animals and weather.

(Dad, you may not want to continue reading this list. Disclaimer- it’s just as safe here as anywhere else in the world. All cities have crime pockets. And we had a team of very protective men with us. Ashley once said that she was scared of a guy with a stick, thinking he might like to hit her with the stick. The man was mentally ill. If the man hit her with the stick, peaceful Kebba said very simply, “Well then I would tear him apart.”)

A bit of sightseeing...

A bit of sightseeing... Image taken from Love4Gambia Facebook page.

We ran through rice fields, ground nut fields and couscous fields.

We ran and drove through long hours together where my team’s bond and friendship turned into family. If you want to really get to know an African country and 3 African men, there’s no better way to become close with the country and its people than to run across it with them. West African societies, especially tribal relationships, are incredibly complex. I now have a wealth of knowledge stored away from conversations that our feet carried us through.

We ran more kilometers as a team than I did alone. Days 8 through 14, I didn’t run a single step solo. On Day 15, I ran 9 km solo (7 by request) and those were my last solo kms.

We enjoyed hours of laughing together.

Ashley and I sometimes giggled late at night until we cried.

We enjoyed hours of a dramatic production where Pa Modou was president and we were the people, engaged in an election campaign. When there’s no television, internet, stereo… you entertain yourself in other ways.

We entertained ourselves with a rotating “boss:” the team member who (besides me) ran the most kilometers that day. We laughed hysterically as the boss tried to wield their power until it expired at midnight.

We enjoyed hours of Serere vs Fula jokes until I had one hour too many and started running between Pa Modou and Spider hoping they would finally stop. They stopped while running, continued the rest of the hours of the day.

We ran through the brief illnesses of 3 of our team members and learned that when one team member is down, we are all down.

We ran with 3 amazing groups who joined us: children, mamas in rice fields and soldiers on convoy. We loved them all equally. While the soldiers in the Gambia National Army and the National Guard didn’t run any steps with us, they began to recognize us and would salute me from their convoy (sometimes up to 6 trucks and over 100 soldiers). I would salute them back.

Erin and Ashley on Day 3

Erin and Ashley on Day 3. Image taken from Love4Gambia Facebook page.

We ran so long on the same road that the bush taxi drivers began to recognize us and would give us a happy beep and wave instead of an irritated “get the heck outta my way” beep and wave.

We went through a few mornings where I didn’t want to get out of the truck and run. On these mornings Kebba always felt my fatigue and would say, “Oh, Erin. I hate to let you out of the truck.” Ashley would push me out and Pa would drag me onto the road. Once pink sneakers are on the road, fatigue would be replaced with happiness. My team just had to get the pink sneakers onto the road.

We rested for 2 hours under 15 different trees along the South Bank Road and led way more than 15 curious youth through yoga practice.

We ran through the mysterious disappearance of Akon for 3 days.

We stayed in places where our dinner was killed before us. Although in Ndemban, the 10 year-old boy entrusted with killing the rooster with a dull butter knife only managed to mortally wound the rooster and Spider had to step in to relieve the boy of this duties and finish the job.

Ashley and I peed and changed clothes in many hidden spots in the forest together. Sometimes we were only hidden from the truck and that was perfectly acceptable. Sometimes we just changed next to the truck “hidden” by my camping towel.

We ran through forests renowned for armed robbery, although the last incidence was more than one year ago. Though such is the reputation that locals remain weary and police checks are more numerous.

We celebrated each overhead shower and each room with more than one electrical outlet.

We endured a robbery at our lodge in Janjanbureh where the thief knocked off the screen on our window and possibly entered our room. We’re not sure; the runner was dead asleep and Ashley just rolled over in bed without noticing. We heard that he was a very unskilled thief who only made away with one wallet from a guy in another bank of rooms. We did get a lot of mileage out of this thief as he was named as a suspect in the disappearance of Akon.

Erin with her class

'Homework'. Image taken from Love4Gambia Facebook page.

We knew that we had been running and living “in the bush” a long time when we were in Ndemban, staying at a local compound next to the road leading to Senegal and site of the Casamance civil conflict. Kebba told us: “We are 3km from Casamance so if you hear gunfire overnight, don’t worry, it’s just coming from the rebels across the border.” And we easily replied, “Yea, whatever. Is there an electrical outlet here so we can charge the Garmin?” Then Ashley and I didn’t even think to talk about this conversation for another 4 days.

We ran so long that Stephen Harper was starting to look good.

I ran so long and got called “toubab” (Mandinka word for white person) so many times that I started following Pa Modou’s lead and began calling “morfing” (Mandinka word for black person) back.

We ran so long together that I felt like we could run to the end of the world together.

When Kebba drove us back to Leybato Guest House after our victorious swim in the Atlantic Ocean, we sat in the driveway next to each other in the front seat. We were both silent for about a full minute. I finally looked at him and said, “Kebba, I don’t want to get out of the truck because when I get out, it feels like it’ll be over.” Kebba nodded his head slowly. After a few moments, he looked at me and said, “Our team will never end.” Then we were brave enough to get out the truck.

My team’s goal was accomplished but after what we’ve travelled, experienced, endured, been through, supported each other through, run through together… being a team will never end.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Rendez-vous Rustico Duathlon Results

Rendez-vous Rustico Duathlon

16.8K Cycle / 7.5K Run (Adults)

4K Cycle / 1K Run (Youth)

Results for Adult Duathlon

Results for Youth Duathlon

Runners pound pavement in Prince County Exhibition




(click on article to enlarge & read)

Participants, organizers pleased

with exhibition's first PCE run



First-place winners in the first-ever Seaforth Energy-sponsored  Prince County Exhibition's run were, front row, from left: Paul Dalton,  men's 5K, and Mike MacKinnon, men's 10K. Back row: Wendy Harris, women's  5K, and Jennifer Pizio-Perry, women's 10K. Eric McCarthy/Journal Pioneer

First-place winners in the first-ever Seaforth Energy-sponsored Prince County Exhibition's run were, front row, from left: Paul Dalton, men's 5K, and Mike MacKinnon, men's 10K. Back row: Wendy Harris, women's 5K, and Jennifer Pizio-Perry, women's 10K.

Published on July 31, 2011

Eric McCarthy

ALBERTON - The first-ever Prince County Exhibition run attracted 29 participants Sunday morning, and produced at least one personal best.

Paul Dalton of St. Edward crossed the finish line in 19 minutes 23 seconds (19:23) to win the men's five-kilometre race. It was the first time the Ironman participant ever finished a five-kilometre run in under 20 minutes, and he was pleased with the results.

Wendy Harris of O'Leary was the first female to finish the 5K, posting a time of 22:12 in one of the few races she entered this year.

Dominating the 10-kilometre event were Mike MacKinnon of Miscouche (35:06) and Jennifer Pizio-Perry of Greenmount, the fastest female in a time of 43:41.

Fourteen participants, including 11 females, ran the single-loop 5K course while 15 participants, including eight females, completed the double-loop 10K course.

Close to home

Although two minutes off her personal-best time, Pizio-Perry was pleased with the run. It is one of the few times she gets to race close to home.

The course was a mix of road and Confederation Trail running surfaces and, while Pizio-Perry admits she prefers to run on the road, she said the trail was nicely packed.

"It was a good running course," added Dalton. "It was good running conditions - wasn't hot - and just one of those days when everything clicked."

"It was a good running course. It was good running conditions - wasn't hot - and just one of those days when everything clicked." - Paul Dalton

Except for a climb at the end of each loop, the course was relatively flat.

Open for suggestions

Scott Gamble, organizer of the Seaforth Energy-sponsored race, was pleased with the turnout and was open for suggestions on how to improve the run and attract more participants next year.

Mary Hart from Coleman ran the 10K course pushing her three-year-old daughter, Reid, in a stroller. Reid got out for the home stretch to finish the race hand-in-hand with her mother. Hart's time of 54:47 gave her second place in the women's 10K.

MacKinnon, who finished 1:22 off his personal best time, was pleased with the result, admitting his training lately wasn't such that he could challenge for a personal best.

MacKinnon noted the race attracted numerous local runners, people he doesn't see in many of the other races he enters. He was happy with the first-year event and with the number of participants it attracted.

"It's great," he said.

wbureau@journalpioneer.com

Paulette Dalton completes Swiss Ironman

http://www.journalpioneer.com/Sports/2011-07-27/article-2678559/Paulette-Dalton-completes-Swiss-Ironman/1

Paulette Dalton completes Swiss Ironman



Paulette Dalton drapes the Canadian flag over her shoulders in  jubilation after completing the Ironman Switzerland Triathlon earlier  this month. Submitted photo

Paulette Dalton drapes the Canadian flag over her shoulders in jubilation after completing the Ironman Switzerland Triathlon earlier this month.

Published on July 27, 2011

Eric McCarthy

TORONTO - "Twelve hours of exercise - it takes a lot out of you," Paulette Dalton says matter-of-factly.

The St. Edward, P.E.I., native recently returned to her home in Toronto following a two-week vacation in Switzerland, which included participating in the Ironman Switzerland Triathlon.

It was her fourth-ever Ironman, and her fastest yet. She finished in a time of 12 hours 44 minutes 15 seconds (12:44:15), beating her previous best time by nearly four minutes.

And she put up her best time despite feeling nauseous for much of the race.

"I was struggling, I will admit, so I was just trying to get done with the course as quickly as I could," she said.

Her body would have been happier with her, she acknowledged, if she just slowed down.

Her health improved and she was feeling fine for the last half of the running leg of the race. Overall, she was 15th amongst the 23 participants in the female 25-to-29 age category, but eighth in her category for the running leg.

"My run is definitely my strongest point," she acknowledged.

Although happy with her overall time, Dalton admitted it was bittersweet.

It was the first Ironman that her father, Paul, didn't run with her. He's preparing for Ironman Canada in Penticton, B.C., late next month.

"I'm going to be sad to miss it," she said.

She ran the last three Ironman Canada events with him, but her vacation time is now depleted. Besides, the Toronto registered nurse heads back to school in September in pursuit of her masters in nursing degree. She will continue working full time during her schooling.

Despite living in different provinces since 2002, the father-and-daughter duo have been each other's biggest motivator, challenging each other along the way.

It was Paulette who got her father started in running.

"I was struggling, I will admit, so I was just trying to get done with the course as quickly as I could.” - Paulette Dalton

She was in Grade 9 or 10, she recalls, and he was taking her to a running event. Rather than sit in the car and wait, he decided to join in. They ran their first marathon together in 2004. He was the first to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and, this year, she joined him.

Although she will be cutting back on her running while in school, she hopes to run Boston with her father again next year.

The 2002 Westisle graduate maintains a busy fitness schedule, committed to an exercise routine six days a week.

One of the highlights of the Switzerland race was running the final lap carrying a Canadian flag and hearing "Go Canada" cheers.

After the race, Dalton and her boyfriend, Triton Hall, vacationed in Switzerland. They took a trip up the Alps, but spent much of their time at a lake, swimming and feeding the swans.

"It was really beautiful, very relaxing," she said.

Dalton's times for the Swiss Ironman were 1:28:10 for the 3.8-kilometre swim, 7:01:01 for the 180-kilometre bike race and 4:07:29 for the 42.1-kilometre run. She had quick transition times of 3:03 between the swim and the bike and 4:31 between bike and run.

She endured a few kicks during the swimming portion of the race, which is not unexpected considering there were over 2,000 swimmers in the lake in Zurich at the same time.

Eric McCarthy is the western bureau manager of the Journal Pioneer. The "Islanders Away" feature appears every Thursday. If you would like to suggest an "Islander Away" for this feature, please do so by emailing jpsports@journalpioneer.com.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Brookvale Ultra Trail Marathon 2011

It was cloudy and 17 degrees.

The Brookvale Ultra Trail Marathon at Brookvale Provincal Park. The loop course on ski trails, mountain bike trails, dirt roads and woodlot.

Billy MacDonald won the 25km race with new course record and Hazel Caldwell from Nova Scotia for the top female with new course record.

I finished in 2:39:21 and came in 15th out of 36 runners.

Matt Allain won the 10km race with new course record and Jenn Duncan for the top female.

Steven Baglole won the 50km race with new course record and Sarah MacKinnon for top female.

Official Result: 15th out of 36
25K in 2 hours, 39 minutes, 21 seconds





Lost & Found
photos of items left behind at the race
Contact Shawn if anything here is yours


Brookvale Ultra Trail Marathon 2010
Brookvale Ultra Trail Marathon 2009



Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness