Though numbers were lower than past years, that didn’t hold back runners in this year’s Smithers Marathon from adding some memorable statistics to the event’s 15 year history, while enjoying near-perfect long distance running conditions.
“We’ve got low numbers, but high passion,” said organizer Cormac Hikisch. “We had a good temperature for running, and cloud cover helps.”
Two Canadian members of an international running club met in person for the first time at the event, with one, Richard Stewart of Prince George, completing his 75th marathon. The Smithers race was also his 50th. The other member of the Marathon Maniacs club, James Wilson, made the furthest trek to take part in the marathon, flying in from Gatineau, Quebec, to run his 19th marathon in his quest to complete all 82 of the 42.2km runs that occur every year in Canada.
“It was a perfect day for a race,” said Stewart.
Wilson joked that he had ulterior motives for travelling to Smithers for the weekend.
“We wanted to get away from William and Kate,” he said.
Wilson also said the view along the race route – which travelled north from Smithers Secondary School, under Hudson Bay Mountain – was amazing, compared to the scenery on offer in some of the other races he’s taken part in.
In the half marathon, Hikisch noted an impressive achievement by a young local runner.
“This is the second youngest runner we’ve ever had,” he said. Ashley Pence, 13, from Smithers, won the Junior Female half marathon. Four years ago, she set a record she won’t be able to break, as the youngest runner to ever finish the half marathon at nine years old.
The children’s fun marathon, which involved one or two laps around the outdoor track depending on age, had 33 young athletes from one year old up to age nine finishing the race.
“That’s more than twice what we had last year. The kids had a blast,” said Hikisch.
In the full marathon, Chris Budac of Prince George won the overall event, with a time of 3:38:17. He also took the top spot in the Grand Masters category. Richard Kriegl of Terrace won the Masters group and had the second best overall time at 4:09:13. For possibly the first time, there were no women running the full marathon.
In the half marathon, Kevin Garneau of Terrace finished first overall, in 1:28:34, winning the Open Men category. Sonya Croker of Fraser Lake was the top overall woman in the half, finishing in 1:34:40 and winning the Open Women. In the Grand Masters category, Irene Howard of Telkwa won the women’s, while Dennis Straussrogel from Prince George won the men’s. Roy Fowler of Smithers won the Masters Men, and Ngaere Gilbert of Smithers won the Masters Women. Pence won the Junior women, and Craig Osborn from Smithers won the Junior Men.
In the team runs, Smithers runners Sheila Smith and Richard Joseph won the mixed race, while Sarah Hamhuis of Telkwa and Michelle Armstrong from Vancouver won the womens team run.
Next year’s race will again return on Canada Day.