The non-profit group of fun runners
www.runningmaniacs.com
"Run for Your Life"
RUNNING MANIACS - HISTORY OF OUR RACES
(Present - past)
PETERBOROUGH Resolution Run Dec 31, 2006
A small group of the Maniacs attended this fun run to finish off the 06 season. Paul Cormack, Jane and Paul, Patty and Steve were in attendance. The route was unmarked and dark but the group finished in fine form.
WHITBY 10 Mile/5Km/3Km November 26. 2006
A very large gang of Running Maniacs went to Whitby to run the
3K, 5K and 10 mile races there. It started and finished at the
Whitby Yacht Club and ran along the waterfront trail. When we run
these sections of the Waterfront Trail in Whitby and Ajax it makes
us wonder what has happened here in the Bowmanville area. This
section was beautiful, paved, right beside the lake and you felt
like you were in the middle of nowhere, not behind all those
industrial sites, which of course you actually were. Running the 3K
was Patti L., and she enjoyed it and felt great. Running the 5K were
Steve, Paul and Megan ( a father and daughter team) and Gord.
Running the 10 miler were Robin, Cat, Jane C., Jane T., Dave G.,
Carmen, Steve L., Mary Anne, Derek, Carolyn, Grant and Cliff. Robin,
the speed demon, was the 3rd women in the race and won the prize for
the first Masters woman. Cat was first in her age group. In the
fiercely contested women’s group 50-54, Mary Anne came 2nd, and Jane
C. came 3rd.
Jane T. and Dave G. ran the longest run they had ever run and were
tired but pleased. Steve L. had a great P. B. he is becoming a major
speed demon too. We got fun knapsacks instead of t-shirts, and we
had brunch afterwards………Robin, Mary Anne and Jane C. also won
Running Room gift certificates as a door prize. YAHOO……A great
Running Maniac outing……………
NEW YORK
CITY MARATHON November 5,2006
Our beloved coach Heather was the sole Running Maniac to go and
run this marathon with Lance Armstrong. Even though she didn’t even
see him she still has bragging rights that she ran a race with him
and how awesome is that. She had a great race by all accounts and as
per usual a great result. We are again in awe of her and her amazing
talents. WE LOVE YOU HEATHER !
NEWCASTLE MANIACS FALL RUN October 7th,2006
Our first race was a wonderful success over 160 runners, great
weather and $3000 raised for Lions Guide Dog Program. Our beloved
writer Jane as a volunteer and participant had this say,
"Amazing, fantastic, awesome, FUN, super, incredible, spectacular, FUN, the best ever, wow, tremendous, FUN, cool, groovy, beautiful, FUN, unbelievable, great, holey-moley, FUN………That pretty much says it all…………It was a blast…………..ROCK ON RUNNING MANIACS".
Well put Jane.
PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY MARATHON, 0ctober 1, 2006
The Running Maniacs went to Picton to run on this beautiful country course. It was a cool, mainly overcast day with nice fall temperatures. This is an extremely well-organized race and it is a pleasure to run, with lots of on-course support, water, outhouses and beer and good food afterward. The t-shirts, socks, and knapsacks were awesome too as was the very attractive medal. Four of our group ran the full marathon, two of them achieving the goal many of us aspire to, the qualifying time to run the Boston Marathon. Mike Carter and Robin Rickard achieved this goal, WELL DONE YOU TWO. Kelly Ogilvie ran again in Boston Marathon qualifying time and so is also able to go again. Ann Stewart had another amazing p.b. but sadly missed her Boston qualifying time by 63 seconds…………….Kelly was 1st in her age division, Ann was 3rd. Heather Pereira wowed us yet again as she came 1st in her half-marathon age division, Chris Mulders came 2nd in his. Fast, fast, fast………. Completing the half marathon also was Derek Lamont, who ran this distance for the first time and was VERY fast as well. Steve Lawrence finished under 2 hours and was thrilled with this result. Lorrie Rochon, Carolyn Lamont, Susan McKenna, Mary Anne Slemon, Chris Meech, Gord Stewart and Jane Chadwick finished this race and were all pleased with what they had done. Gord and Jane finished the race holding hands and this was a great thrill for this old married running couple………….Jane’s 87 year old mother was there to watch and was very impressed with our running and our running outfits. On the course we had lots of comments about our clothing, someone asked me what RUN FOR YOUR LIFE means. Is that not obvious? It was a great day and a very successful outing for the RUNNING MANIACS……………
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL
MARATHON September 24,2006
Mary Anne Slemon and Chris Meech went in to run the half marathon at this
event. They were pleased with their results and the course. MaryAnne’s son
was giving massages after the race so she had one. FUN
TERRY FOX RUN, SEPTEMBER 17, 2006
The Bowmanville Terry Fox Run was attended by many of the Running Maniacs, both runners and walkers. Coach Heather took her walkers around the 5K route and the runners completed the 10K route. It was a very humid and overcast morning. After the run the guys from Hands in Motion were very busy sorting our various Running Maniac ailments and that was very helpful. The newspaper was there and took a photo of us before we started. Maybe we will get lucky and it will be in the paper. That would be a help with our own race coming up so soon. Every year we do this run and it is great to see the group getting bigger and bigger. We had lot of questions about our very excellent shirts and shorts and who were we etc………ROCK ON RUNNING MANIACS! KEEP ON TRUCKING! We know Terry Fox would agree with our motto
“run for your life.”
August 19, Toronto
A group of 9 Running Maniacs went into Toronto to run the first ever Midsummer Night’s Run. This 30K race started at 8 o’clock in the evening and the course ran east from Cherry Street and the Lakeshore to the boardwalk in the Beaches and then south around the Leslie Street Spit. The terrain covered included paved road, dirt road, gravel, sand, bridges, boardwalk, pot holes, speed bumps, bike trails, train tracks etc. etc. etc. It was extremely dark as there was no moon and the course was poorly marked with construction flashing lights. Some of us wore headlamps and we were given glo-lights to wear. It was very hot and there must have been 100% HUMIDITY. This was a very tricky race with the limited visibility. However the Running Maniacs plodded on, achieving some excellent results. Kelly Ogilvie came 1st in her age category, Heather Pereira came 2nd in hers, Robin Rickard came 3rd in hers. Ann Stewart and Jane Chadwick completed this race, Jane carrying her glasses most of the way as they were so fogged up. The 2 relay teams had a great race. Sara Presson-Young and Chris Mulder placed 2nd overall with very similar 15K times YIPPEE! Steve Lawrence and Gord Stewart had very similar times for their relay as well so they are again a very well-matched team.
We were disappointed somewhat by the lack of on-course support, the lack of outhouses on the course (well there might have been some, but we couldn’t see them) into the bushes went Ann and Jane, the lack of lighting on the Leslie Street section and they ran out of cups at kilometre 24, YIKES. The men’s outhouses at the beginning were a work of art- 4 holers- YAHOO, WOW. Will we do this one again? Whatever, a good training run for the big one coming up in Picton!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 4, Minden
Chris Meech, Ann Stewart and Jane Chadwick ran the new and improved 10K Highland Yard. It started at 6 o’clock in the evening. This is Chris’s 6th time, Jane’s 5th. Ann was the 3rd woman in overall; Jane was 3rd in her age group. We won framed photographs which are very different but appropriate for this race which is a fundraiser for a local summer camp.
Durham 1/4 Marathon, Oshawa , July 29th, 2006
Angela Herd, Dave Gifford, Steve Lawrence. Angela and Dave moving on to the next level of distance competed in this through the trails of Oshawa course. The morning started cool but finished at the lake very warm. The course was downhill for the first 7k, then a challenge hill and a flat finish line complete with tons of food and beverages. The three runners all achieved PB!
Gravenhurst Duathalon, July 23, 2006
Heather Pereira, Chris Meech went to do an Olympic distance triathalon. Steve Renton did the duathalon. Heather, our hero yet again, came in 3rd in her age division and 5th woman overall. WOW, HURRAY! It started off as a rainy day, then cleared up and got hot. The run section at the end was quite challenging and all the transition sections were quite difficult. At the finish Subway sandwiches were served, ummm, yeah, and all the participants got a very nice shirt.
July 23, Edmonton, Alberta
Jane Chadwick went to Edmonton to be with Gord who was working there. She ran a 10K trail race along the river called THE MOOSE IS LOOSE. She came 3rd in her age group winning an awesome medal. At this event you could choose your treat afterwards between 3 types of wraps, chocolate brownies, 4 kinds of fruit and unlimited Tim Horton’s coffee. They sure know how to do the food thing out west!
Calgary, Alberta, July 9
Jane Chadwick and Ann Stewart ran the Calgary half marathon and Gord Stewart ran the 10K. Another extremely hot day, 28 degrees, and after adding in the altitude - 3500 feet - these were tricky races for people from low-lying Ontario. The course took us through the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Zoo. How fun is that! Great food, excellent medals and shirts.
Ann and Jane went to a master’s speedskating camp on the Calgary Olympic Oval that week. Phenomenal. We watched Cindy Klassen, Jeremy Wotherspoon, Kristina Groves, Clara Hughes and Hayley Wickenhauser (hockey player) train. Jane got Cindy to autograph her skates. Cindy Klassen’s Olympic coach worked with our group for an afternoon………HOLEY MOLEY …think of that!
Peterborough ,July 9
Heather Pereira and Andrea MacDonald went and did a Sprint triathlon. Heather, our indomitable leader, came 2nd in her age division. They enjoyed this race especially as they got to see the half-ironman racers in action. There was lots of food at the end-breakfast pitas, homemade jam, cookies and pop, yahoo. There were also a few booths set up with stuff to buy, we all like to shop.
Whitby Ultima, July 7th, 2006 5Km
Robin and Brynn Rickard and Steve Lawrence flew down the Whitby lake shore and back for an enjoyable Friday evening run. Brynn was top in her age category and Robin placed second in the womens category. Small race but an enjoyable course.
CANADA DAY, JULY 1, 2006, HBC Toronto
Steve Lawrence, Tyler
Lawrence, Dave Gifford and Angela Herd. Dave finished with a personal best
and Steve got to fulfill a dream, with Tyler and him finishing the race
together, with Angela finishing shortly their after. The team enjoyed
running along the Lake Ontario Waterfront and finishing the race at
Ontario Place. They also enjoyed music from a band while eating race treats
in Ontario Place with a free admission to the park from our
race kit. Fun was had by all!!!
CANADA DAY, JULY 1, 2006, Algonquin Park
On Canada Day 7 Running Maniacs braved the wilderness of Algonquin Park again, to run the 10K HBC Run For Canada. This is a trail race run on an old railway track bed at Mew Lake. We ran through mud and trees, over roots, sand, rocks and a bridge beside two lakes to complete this fun course. Susan McKenna, Jane Chadwick, Gord Stewart, Ann Stewart, Chris Meech and his daughter Emma all achieved personal bests. Susan cut her 10 kilometre time by 2 minutes, yahoo! Dan Goselin achieved his P.W. and is finally beginning to appreciate Jane’s running mantra; “In the marathon of life, this is just one little run.” The t-shirts we got are awesome as was the yummy food after, hot dogs, hamburgers and to round out the food groups, potato chips. We swam in one of the park’s lakes to de-sticky ourselves. Then we came back to Jane and Gord’s cottage to continue on with the Canada Day festivities.
On an interesting note we all got to touch a gold Olympic medal from the Turin 2006 Paralympics. We met Chris Daw, the skip of the Canadian gold medal winning curling team. Man, his training schedule is fascinating.
WHO IS IN ON THIS ONE NEXT YEAR?
Vancouver, British Columbia, June 25
Grant Luxton ran the Vancouver half-marathon in 30 degree weather. It was a very scenic route along the Pacific Ocean finishing in Stanley Park. There was excellent food at the end and very nice medals and shirts. However, Grant felt that there were not enough mileage markers along the route.
Huntsville, June 17
Chris Meech did a Sprint triathlon in Huntsville. It was an extremely hot day and he rode his heart out on the bike section. Therefore the tank was empty when he got to the run. To get to the start of the swim portion he rode on a train, standing up as in a cattle car. After the completion of the three events they had a mister - shower thing set up which made him feel human again!
Toronto June 11/06
Well another weekend,
another crazy maniac run!!!
Brynn and I did run again this weekend. The race was called the Toronto
Challenge and it was very exciting. Brynn had her best place ever finishing
second in her age category with a time of 28.38, not a P.B. but a great race for
her. The real thrill was that Doug Gilmour helped with the awards ceremony and
Brynn had her place on the podium right close to him. Well then came my
excitement....I thought that I had placed 4th and we wandered off to have a
burger when I heard my name called for third (I guess when I first looked it was
the unofficial time). I did the 100m dash to the podium and Mr. Gilmour actually
spoke to me , I shook his hand and mumbled a few incoherent words( Dougie is
one of my all time fav hockey players) as my entire body trembled!
Editors note: The maniacs are so proud of our youngest and fastest runner, keep going speedy, you are amazing!
Alfie Shrubb - 8Km Hampton June 3, 2006
What a great day for a
run on Sunday June 3, 2006! The maniacs sure made their presence known in
Hampton, at the 8K Alfie Schrub event! So many people wanted to buy our funky
shirts! This event was intended for a celebration run for those who were not
able to make the journey to Ottawa, but you know us maniacs! Some runners who
ran in Ottawa, were out to either challenge their 5K times, or loosen up those
muscles after their longer events.
A big congratulations goes out to Rory Galbraith! He persevered right until the
end to complete his celebration 8K run! Way to go Rory! With much coaxing, and
edging on, Linda Franssen finally got her nerve up to run her first race! Great
strong finishes!
Angela Herd, Dave Gifford, Chris Lane, Gary Lane, Alison Lane, Bailey Stocker,
John Stocker, Tara Stocker completed the 8K just after celebrating their first
ever 5K event in Ottawa the week before! This is an amazing accomplishment in
only one week! Stephanie Lane decided on the 8K walk after her huge success last
weekend in Ottawa. Brynn and Robin Rickard had an emotional finish! Mother &
daughter hand in hand! Coach Heather ran with her son Brandon, but could not
keep up to him on his sprint to the finish on the last 400 metres!
Derek Lamont cruised through this 8k event, considering last week he motored
through the 10K event. Steve Lawrence came back with a personal best time! Grant
used this event to loosen up those exhausted muscles just after completing his
first marathon the week before. Grant and Heather were the only full marathoners
out racing just after a week of recovery. Grant will be competing in a half
marathon in BC at the end of the month! Way to go Grant! A true maniac!
It was a great day for all maniacs! Congratulations. Keep your eyes posted for
the calendar for June, July and August. The summer is a funny time with people
enjoying the summer vacations, and weekends away. Set your next goal at this
time. You may want to maintain for our 5K Fall Festival Run, or you may want to
go for the 10K event. You know your limitations, you know what you are capable
of, and your commitment to training. Check the website for upcoming fun races!
The next 2 events that the calendar will prepare us for is Picton (half or full)
and the 10K Fall Festival Run in October.
Ottawa race weekend, May 28, 2006
Will Ottawa ever be the same again after the Running Maniacs went and conquered the races last weekend? It was something very special to be involved with all those runners on that first-of-the-season VERY HOT weekend. Not to be undone by 29 degrees and full sunny weather we carried on, achieving personal bests, running our first ever races and one of us achieving that prestigious BOSTON QUALIFIER goal. WOW!
Fourteen Maniacs ran the very fast 5K on Saturday night. Brynn Rickard
achieved the best placement of any Maniac runner this weekend coming 5th
in her age division. She also had the most coordinated running outfit of
the weekend with her colour matching hair elastics. If we could all run
like Brynn we would have lots to be proud of. Brandon Pereira, Angela
Herd, Nicole Cumby, Garry,
Christine, Alison, and Stephanie Lane, Bailey, Tara
and John Stocker, Liz Palmer and Patricia Baetsen all ran and completed
their first ever 5K race. WOW keep it up maniacs. Dave Gifford also
finished this race in 29 minutes, breaking the 30 minute mark. YAHOO!
You all graduate up to the intermediate running maniac level. Not able
to attend were Nancy Sandercock, Jennifer Gibson, Tyler Lawrence, Linda
Franssen, Rory Galbraith, John Lindsay, and Cheryl Carroll who would
have been just as successful, we know.
Derek Lamont was the lone Running Maniac doing the even faster 10K race. He had an amazing time of 50:31, then returned to his other job of official photographer of our races. Thank you Derek for all the excellent photos!
Now the half marathoners. First timers Lianne Trotter, Greg Stephensen, Heather Kane and Carolyn Lamont all did an amazing job. Greg and Lianne got ENGAGED the night before; the first ever Running Maniac marriage proposal: and ran incredibly well considering how tired and excited they were. Lorrie Rochon and Lise Johnson had personal best results. Robin Rickard ran beautifully, she is so strong, and a very proud mother as well! Chris Meech and Gord Stewart ran their best, on cruise control, finishing with big smiles on their faces as per usual. People who couldn’t be there but who would have rocked were Mary Hamilton, Yvonne Rashid, Steve Lawrence and Shawna Mitchell.
Then the marathoners. First, Andrea MacDonald, Grant Luxton and Susan McKenna who completed their first marathons. They finished and learned what all of us who have run this distance have discovered. It’s not about the time you take to finish but the fact that you DID finish. Your first marathon is SO empowering because you learn about your OWN personal strength, endurance and fitness level. You realize that it is really more of a mental job, than physical, as we are ALL so thoroughly prepared for each of our different races by our beloved Coach Heather. YAHOO! WELL DONE! Keep on trucking! Ann Stewart, Jane Chadwick, Dan Goselin and Heather Pereira all achieved personal marathon bests on this course, Ann going under 4 hours. MaryAnne Slemon raced hard and strong and is preparing to run a 5K race next weekend in Texas. Rock on MaryAnne! Steve Renton started the race but unfortunately had to pull out because of a recent gardening injury. WE LOVE YOU STEVE! He would have achieved a great result, of that we are sure! Dan and Heather are BOSTON BOUND, they are the awesome Running Maniacs, achieving the ultimate running goal that the rest of us only dream about! Well done, we are all in awe of you two, enjoy your triumph and spend lots of time dreaming about what Boston will be like and how you will feel when there next April!
The Ottawa race experience was awesome with only one minor disappointment, the pasta dinner!!!!! Little variety , not enough food and NO COOKIES! If we go next year we will eat elsewhere and HEY , GOOD IDEA, why don’t we look into renting a bus !! Imagine it, Monty Python movies(???), drinks on the way home, able to walk home, bathroom, comfy seats AND most importantly, no racer has to drive home!!! Who is in on this one?
LIMESTONE CITY HALF MARATHON – Kingston
On Saturday, April 30, 2006, Jane and Gord went to Kingston to introduce their brother-in-law , Arne, to the pleasures of long distance racing. His only race prior to this was an 8K run. It was a great day and a beautiful but hilly course along the lakeshore in Kingston. We ran around RMC, past two penitentiaries and through two harbours. We met many of our Kingston speedskating friends. Jane came in 3rd in her division and won a lovely medal and a running cap. Gord shaved another 3 minutes off his best time. Arne loved it and ran very well, he is a true running maniac as well………….
ROUND THE BAY 30 K, HAMILTON, MARCH 26,2006
Out we went for our second big race of the year praying for better weather than last. We got it! This year the race started and ended in Copps Coliseum which also was a vast improvement over last year. It was very cool to see each other come running in on the JUMBOTRON. Eight of us ran the 30K, Heather, Dan, Steve R., Ann, Grant, Susan, Jane and Maryanne. All of us had personal bests, Ann had a monster one of 32 minutes. PHEW! There were nine Running Maniacs on 3 relay teams 1.Lorrie, Steve L., Gord; 2. Carolyn, Lianne, Heather K.; 3.Lise, Mike ,Greg who each completed a 10K before handing over the timing anklet to the next maniac runner. They all enjoyed it. Steve L., Lorrie and Gord had almost identical average kilometre times so they were a very well matched relay team. It was a beautiful, sunny day (7 degrees) and there were over 7000 runners. We got excellent shirts and medals and substantial good bags. Very yummy! The monster hill at 26K was no problem for this group of Running Maniacs as coach Heather had us well primed up on the hills of Bowmanville and Newcastle. A piece of cake! Still a little creepy though is that odd metal bridge, yikes! However we keep on trucking, undaunted.
P.S. Thanks to Derek who took care of all our stuff in the stands at Copps. Thanks also to Susan for the very yummy post race cookies.
Peterborough YMCA
Sunday February 26th, 2006 - Our first race of the season was held on a minus 7 degree day with a wind-chill of minus 14. It was sunny but there was a biting NW wind. It is a hard course, hilly, beside two-lane traffic and this year snow covered in spots. Thirteen maniacs, true maniacs they are, ran the half marathon. Three other true maniacs, yes, just as real, ran the 5K. Running the half were Dan, Steve L., Steve R., Gord, Grant, Heather, Susan, Maryann, Jane, Kelly, Ann, Robin and Shawna. Running the 5K were Pauleen, Mary and Yvonne. Congratulations to Grant and Mary for completing their first Maniac event. Some of us were sick before, during and after this frosty event but that would never stop a maniac from running a race. On we trudge, plod, shuffle and run like crazy from beginning to end!
Resolution Run 2005
December 31st, 2005. Snow -7c. It was a blustery, slippery day to finish off 2005 and a great day to set some goals for 2006. The race was not timed but Coach Heather was first female to cross the line! Yvonne, Sophia, Heather P, Heather K, Carolyn, Derek, Lianne, Mike, Steve. Sophia did awesome in her first Maniac race. A fun run and we each received our 10 and 1 watches!
Ajax 10 Mile/ 5Km
November 13th, 2005 Rain and snow held off to allow the starters to run there first race. Nervous and full of energy they took off like a shot and made us all proud when they crossed the finish line! Way to go Maniacs. Steve Renton and Robin Rickard competed in the 10 mile race.
New York ING -
Several members of the Running Maniac’s had talked about running in the NYC marathon the biggest one in the world. Participants from outside United States of America apply to a lottery system, Heather and Mary Anne were fortunate enough to be chosen. Mike, Steve L. and I were not as fortunate. Travel agencies offer packages so we put our names on a waiting list with one in Cobourg. I was 40th down the list. I thought I would never here from them again, much to my delight I received a call from the travel agent in mid September asking if I was interested in going to New York to run. They didn’t have to ask me twice!
Heather, Mary Anne and I were off to New York to run on November 6th, 2005. It turned out to be an excellent experience with close to
37,000 runners from all over the world taking part in this marathon. The course took us through the five boroughs of NYC. There were millions of people lining the streets all along the route. There were 100 hundred bands playing in the streets along the route. The fan participation was amazing, unlike or even close to anything I had experienced in my nine previous marathons. It was amazing that a city of this size was shutdown to watch the race.
This is an experience the three of us will never forget.
Prince Edward County Marathon
On October 2nd, 2005 we went to the most beautiful Prince Edward County to run their race. It was, we felt, the best organized event we have attended so far. Dan, Jane, and Ann did the full marathon all having PBs. Ann achieved a major 32 minute personal best. Heather, Susan, Mary Anne, Steve R., Steve L., Gord, Lori, Chris, Robyn, Mike C., did the half. Heather, continuing her winning ways, came first in her division. The Running Maniacs made a big splash with our excellent team shirts and many of us were announced as one of the Running Maniacs from Bowmanville as we crossed the line. It was great running along car-free country roads in beautiful sunny weather. Beer was served at the finish line. Hurray-there were many outhouses at this event. A great time was had by all.
During the summer of 2005, some Running Maniacs ran other events.
Minden Highland Yard
For the 4th year in a row Jane, Gord and Chris ran this 7.4km race over dirt, trail and paved roads. It’s an evening race and without fail it was again 25C (it’s often warmer). It’s a fundraiser for a local camp.
Cobourg Duathlon
Heather, Dan, Steve R. and Chris ran and biked the Cobourg Duathlon. Heather came third in her age category. The Running Maniacs keep charging on.
Calgary Marathon
Jane and Gord were in Calgary to skate and ran the half (Jane) and 10k (Gord). Calgary is a beautiful city, flat with no humidity but high altitude (3800 feet above sea level). Fun though; as was the skating on the Olympic Oval.
Canada Day Race Algonquin Park
On July 1, 2005 6 Running Maniacs went to Algonquin Park to run a 10k trail race. Mike, Chris, Jane, Gord, Dan and Steve R. ran an excellent race over an old train track bed. We saw a beautiful moose as we drove into the park. Jane came third in her division and won money. Afterwards we went to Steve R’s very excellent interior camp site and enjoyed the best cup of coffee of the summer. A great Canada Day adventure. We all got fluorescent technical shirts with our numbers printed right on them.
Ottawa ING Marathon
On May 29, 2005 we went to Ottawa en masse to run the marathon. We stayed together at a hotel across from Hooters by the Byward Market. We had a scrumptious meal at Johnny Farina’s and watched other runners doing other different length races that evening. Running the full were Heather, Dan, Mike, Steve R., Mary Anne, Jane & Ann. Gord and Andrea did the half. Heather qualified for Boston – yahoo, Dan had a PB, Mike & Maryann had MAJOR PBs, Jane and Ann crossed the line holding hands. Steve Renton said about the marathon, “The distance is daunting”. Ann said “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be”. Right on!???!?!? We wore our new green and white shirts and felt pretty awesome about the whole experience. We said we would do it again; it was beautiful, but not enough outhouses.
Peterborough Half
On February 27, 2005 some of the more hardy members of the group drove up to do a winter running race. It was COLD. Heather, Dan, Jane, Mary Anne, Steve L., Ann and Gord ran the half as did our newest maniac Stee Renton. We really appreciated the communal showers afterwards and the hot food. Heather came 2nd in her age group – Yahoo! A photo of Ann and Jane was in the Peterborough Examiner the next week.
Around the Bay 30K (Hamilton)
On March 20, 2005 we went to Hamilton to run another winter race, we seem to be SLOW learners when it comes to the perils of cold weather racing. Heather, Dan, Mike, Steve R., Jane and Ann completed a very difficult 30k course over bridges, a hill from #$*(@ at 27k and a meeting with the GRIM REAPER. To top it off it snowed for the first 10km. But we got great running shirts and an awesome medal.
Toronto Scotiabank Marathon
That same year we raced the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon
in Toronto on September 26, 2004. It was a beautiful sunny day but it got quite
hot. Heather, Dan, Mary Anne, Jane, and Mike ran the full, for most of our first. Gord, Chris, Steve L., Susan and Ann ran the half. Paul Stewart and Pauleen ran
the 5km race. Again we all had a great time and were pleased with our
“marathon”. We looked especially RAD in our new red and white running singlets.
Mississauga Half
On May 16, 2004 we ventured out again to do another half marathon. It was a beautiful sunny day and we all wished we could live in one of the beautiful homes we passed. Heather, Dan, Mike, Mary Anne and Jane ran the half marathon. Gord, Pauleen and Ann ran the 10km race.
Burlington Tough Ass Half
On May 2, 2004 the Running Maniacs ran their first big race together as a group. Heather, Dan, Mike, Jane, Mary Anne, Susan and Chris ran a half marathon in Burlington. Gord and Pauleen ran a 5km race. It rained every step of the way and the temperature never exceeded 9C. Yuck. We ran up the escarpment and down again hence the name Tough Ass half. Heather, Susan, Jane, Dan all medaled. We were all very excited and very, very cold afterwards.
