Ladysmith Strider Archives   2007  | 2008 | 2009

2010 Ladysmith Striders News Headlines

May 13	Registration Available for Oceanside 10K in Parksville
April 18	Sooke River 10K - Striders Race Report
April 4	Merville 15K - Striders Race Report
March 21	Comox Valley Half Marathon - Striders Race Report
March 14	Runner Had Smile for All - Karl Klein Passes Suddenly
March 7	Bazan Bay 5K - Striders Race Report
February 21	Hatley Castle 8K - Striders Race Report
February 7	Cedar 12K - Striders Race Report
February 4	Ladysmith Striders Run on TAKE-5 Cover
January 24	Cobble Hill 10K - Striders Race Report
January 10	Pioneer 8K - Striders Race Report
January 4	Frontrunners Island Running Series Announcement

May 13, 2010 - ANNOUNCEMENT: Oceanside Running Club Association Presents Oceanside 10K -- How about a nostalgic runs with old friends and new faces! The Oceanside Running Club Association (ORCA) is excited to host the 2010 Oceanside 10K Running Race (“the old Island Series Oceanside 10K”)on Sunday, June 27th at 11:00 a.m.

The race starts at the Parksville Curling Club (Parksville Community Park) and runs through beautiful Rathtrevor Beach Park! With ocean views, a mostly flat loop and enthusiastic volunteers, this run is an energizing summer sun kick off! The course is BC Athletics certified.

The cost is $15.00 and includes awards for the top three finishers in 10 age categories, draw prices, post-event refreshments, and smiles from our volunteers!

Registration is as easy as following the link provided below!

http://orcarunning.ca/contrib/Oceanside_10K/Oceanside_10K_Entry_June_2010.pdf

Please don’t hesitate to contact Barry Carr (barrycarr@telus.net) for more race information.

April 18, 2010 - Sooke River 10K Striders Race Report -- As runners and walkers, the Ladysmith Striders enjoy the four unique endowments or gifts that all human beings find within themselves; that is of course, self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. Not only do these four endowments separate us from the animal world -- that's gazelles and antelopes and cheetahs in case of the Ladysmith Striders -- they also help us to distinguish between reality and illusion on the racecourse, to allow us to transform the clock into a compass to provide directional guidance, and to generally align our lives with the extrinsic realities that govern quality of life. After seeing all the Ladysmith Striders compete in the Sooke River 10K final race of the Frontrunners Island Race Series, I'm convinced the Ladysmith Striders are having the times of their lives and are taking pleasure from their running successes. And in doing so, they have raised their level of physical fitness and demonstrated their willingness to living a pro-active lifestyle which is evident when their Sooke River 10K finishing times were posted. This past Sunday morning, seventeen Ladysmith Striders stood for the 11am start with 445 other like-minded runners to enjoy the final ten kilometers in this racing series finale.

"Self-awareness enables us to examine our paradigms, to look at our glasses as well as through them, to think about our thoughts, and to enlarge the separation between stimulus and response. Self-aware, we can take responsibility for reprogramming or rescripting ourselves out of the stimulus-response mode."
                                                                                                                            -- Stephen R. Covey

Some people say that when two bamboo trees grow close to one another their roots intertwine under the soil to become one. As a result, the intertwined roots are able to support the combined weight of both trees far better than if they stood separately. In a sense, this is a truth that the Ladysmith Striders have come to know. The Ladysmith Striders are actually two core groups of Ladysmith area runners that have joined together as one group for community charity work and competitions and have really stood together in strength with roots that reach back a number of years. Together, they have combined their running strengths in an interdependent way that allows for a competitive and strong team for the Frontrunners Island Race Series. One group of Ladysmith Striders enjoys running and routine regular training under the leadership of Doug Fraser's and his core training and learn to run programs, while the other Ladysmith Striders are a loose group of recreational runners that share the similar values that reside with their cross-town twin. It should be noted that both groups have their beginnings in Doug Fraser's annual Learn to Run programs that are routinely offered every spring at the Frank Jameson Community Center in Ladysmith.

"Conscience puts us in touch with something within us even deeper than our thoughts and something outside us more reliable than our values. It connects us with the wisdom of the ages and the wisdom of the heart. It's an internal guidance system that allows us to sense when we act or even contemplate acting in a way that's contrary to our deepest values and "true north" principles. Conscience is universal."
                                                                                                                            -- Stephen R. Covey

Edward Milne Community School is road race central for the Sooke River 10K and it provides a great location from which to stage the final Frontrunners Island Race Series race. Participants press up to the start line in front of the school and thunder downhill 500 meters before turning right onto Sooke River Road which provides a hard surface for running on an out-and-back course. The main feature of the Sooke River 10K is a hill that occurs two and a half kilometers on the outbound legs and then jumps up again on the return at seven and a half kilometers. The challenge for participants in this race is to reserve enough fuel to climb the nasty little bump on the way back and still have energy to finish strong on the slight uphill in last 500 meters. And judging from the finishing times, Ladysmith Striders had plenty of fuel reserves and all finished well. 

"Independent will is our capacity to act, the power to transcend our paradigms, to swim upstream, to re-write our scripts, to act based on principles rather than reacting based on emotions, moods, or circumstances. While environmental or genetic influences may be very powerful, they do not control us. We're not victims. We're not the product of our past. We are the product of our choices. We are "response-able," meaning we are able to choose our response. This power to choose is a reflection of our independent will."                                                                                                                     -- Stephen R. Covey

Veteran runners Simon Timmer and Garry Vermette lead all Ladysmith Striders to the finish with rocket-powered times inside forty-two minutes while Tiffany Chapman and David Van Horne followed a few minutes with after-burners fully engaged at forty-five and forty-six minutes respectively. It should be pointed out that Tiffany Chapman placed well in Frontrunners Island Race Series overall individual points statistics and she finished out front of all Ladysmith Striders with a racing series average score of 677.8 points; in addition, Tiffany placed fourth in her age group in this race. Grunting it out in forty-seven minute warp-speed finishes were Dan Howard and Brian Reiber who provided onlookers with a super-charged sprint to the finishing chute. Dan Howard decided earlier this year to join the Ladysmith running community and has not only had a very successful Island Series, but has challenged his fleet-footed father Phil Howard for family bragging rights. Phil Howard finished just a minute in behind which will likely provide some lively dinner table banter.

"Creative imagination empowers us to create beyond our present reality. It enables us to write personal mission statements, set goals, plan meetings, or visualize ourselves living our mission statements even in the most challenging circumstances. Imagination is infinite; it deals with the present and the future, with potentiality, with vision and mission and goals with anything that is not now but can be."
                                                                                                                            -- Stephen R. Covey

Nikki Van Horne, Denise Aucoin, April De Jaeger, Tiffany Smith, and Shannon Peck have toed the starting line in the majority of Frontrunners Island Race Series races and the Ladysmith Striders owes much of their club standings success to the perseverance and dedication of these athletes. All of these ladies placed in the top-ten of their age group for the Frontrunners Island Race Series and finished strong in the Sooke River 10K finale. Sincere congratulations to these athletes for a high-octane Frontrunners Island Race Series.

Pauline Naidoo and Bala Naidoo continue to log some extremely favourable miles in the Frontrunners Island Race Series. For the 2010 Frontrunners Island Race Series, Pauline Naidoo set age-group course records in seven out of eight races and placed first in her age group in each race. Bala Naidoo has made his mark as well this year by positioning himself in the top-ten in his age group in all eight races and pounded out top-three positions in three of those at Hatley Castle 8K, Bazan Bay 5K, and on Sunday's where Bala broke the tape in third place. The Naidoos garner alot of respect within ranks of the Ladysmith Striders and it's no wonder because they are so well-regarded as individuals and they both model the behavior of true athletes who train hard and run well.

This last road race of the Frontrunners Island Race Series was a special event for the author of this race report - special because I was able to run with my son-in-law Brant Dame. Brant joined me for the Sooke River 10K in order to fulfill his goal of running both his very first organized road race and his first Frontrunners Island Race Series road race. Brant and I ran together the entire way and showed great form throughout the distance. While I had to caution him not to kick too early as we passed the nine kilometer mark, he sprinted away from me in the last 500 meters and finished his first race in under one hour - a very respectable 58 minutes. I offer Brant Dame my sincere congratulations for finishing his very first 10 kilometer race in under one hour and wish him much success in his future running endeavours.

         
Click Photos to Enlarge for Viewing

The post-race food provided by the Island Road Racers was both plentiful and delicious. Ladysmith Striders appreciate the time and effort that the volunteers and race organizers take to offer snacks after the race and to all of those others who looked after the runners and walkers, the Ladysmith Striders offers your club our gratitude.

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window.  

This was the final road race in the Frontrunners Island Race Series. The Ladysmith Striders would like to thank all of the individuals that worked to make this road racing series a success.

April 4, 2010 - Merville 15K Striders Race Report -- For some runners, the fast and fairly flat Merville 15K feels like sweet music on a warm spring morning - music that sets your mileage mind at ease and your heart-rate at peace. For others, if the Merville 15K were truly made of sweet music, it would be an opera and would likely be called the Runners of Merville. And looking at the finishing results of Sunday's road race, it's worth noting that the leading roles in such an opera would have undoubtedly be given to Ladysmith Strider leading lady Tiffany Chapman who easily played the part of lightening-quick soprano Racina Mennimyles; whereas the male lead would have been awarded to Ladysmith Strider Phil Howard who provided a shining example in the leading man role playing a much-improved and dedicated middle-distance baritone runner Figaro Gofasta. In fact, one might contemplate that if the Merville 15K really were put to music it would be a operatic extravaganza of very fast and capable runners with a cast of Ladysmith Striders belting out the lyrical mileage with Con Brio and Con Expressione. And just as most modern musical Librettos are written in the two-act format, so the challenging Runners of Merville opera is true to form with Act Two being the more difficult part of the performance as it is found to be evilly encumbered by a build of elevation making it quite arduous and difficult to achieve a negative split.

Act I

Act I begins with the Race Director tapping his baton on the starting podium as he beckons an eager cast of 273 participants to stand ready to run forward Prestissimo from a staging area and start line at Poulton and Merville. With the drop of the baton the music of pounding feet begins the first movement as runners shoulder their way out onto the first few straight-stretches of Merville Road in search of fifteen full kilometers of Frontrunners Island Race Series operatic bliss. Hard-surfaced roads invite applause from all those gathered for the Opera Seria and cheer as runners build speed Rinforzando on a slight downhill and continue Scherzando where the public carriageway levels off. At the first major intersection, the troupe veers right on Headquarters Road and settles into their Martellato pace. Many runners are hitting the Cadenza high notes by the five kilometers mark as they prepare for the sharps and flats of Tsolum River Road. From this point in the performance, talented ensembles trumpet their speed-play for a Pomposo position in Act II.

Act II

Act II is where the real drama unfolds. Tsolum River Road bends and weaves through tunnels of over-hanging cedars and firs that seem to reach down from their heights and sweep weary runners forward who have gone out too fast and now fallen off their pace. It is here that the road snakes it's way back through a gradual elevation change and it's here that the road lures participants to press forward unknowingly into the soreness that lies in the hills ahead where the race course rejoins the southern reaches of Headquarters Road. During this medley of closely-paced miles, those in tune with their race plans find the energy to engage this high point on the course and finish Vivace; those that Sincopato find Lentando in a measure that they disturbingly observe as Andante. Act II in it's final stages then reprises Merville Road for a slight climb to a finishing Crescendo back on Poulton Road.    

Eight Ladysmith Striders began this excellent 15K performance and eight Ladysmith Striders received respectable finishing times. As noted above, Tiffany Chapman and Phil Howard played leading roles in the Runners of Merville with Tiffany achieving a podium finish and Phil taking bows for a top-twenty effort in their corresponding age-groups. Congratulations are offered to a supporting cast of Ladysmith Striders finishers with David Van Horne, Bala Naidoo, Nikki Van Horne, and April DeYaeger with their top-ten achievements in their respective age groups. Flowers were thrown onto the stage for both Daniel Howard and Pauline Naidoo who took curtain calls for their magnificent first place performances.

The Ladysmith Striders would like to acknowledge the race organizers and volunteers of the River Runners of Campbell River for all their hard work in presenting this wonderful and lyrical road race.

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window.  

The final road race in the Frontrunners Island Race Series takes place on April 18th in Sooke. The Sooke River 10K starts and finishes from Edward Milne Community School and post race activities include awards and acknowledgements for the entire Frontrunners Island Race Series.

Musical Terms Key (in the order that they are found) Librettos: the text or words of an opera Con Brio: with brilliancy Con Expressione: with expression Opera Seria: A serious opera where the usual characters are gods, goddesses or ancient heroes. Prestissimo: as quick as possible Rinforzando: with additional force Scherzando: playfully Martellato: struck with force Cadenza: A passage of singing which shows off the singer's vocal ability Pomposo: pompous and grand Vivace: with extreme briskness and animation Sincopato: forced out of time Lentando: slower by degrees Andante: somewhat slow Crescendo: gradual increase in volume of tone

March 21, 2010 - Comox Valley Half Marathon Striders Race Report -- The Comox Valley Half Marathon route is punctuated with local history. From a snapshot-in-time perspective, a refocus of the historical lens would bring the forth shadows of lumbering logging trains that used to trundle parallel to much of the half marathon course on Condensory Rd. In the mind's eye of a runner, the log trains might be keeping pace with participants as the heavy cars hissed, squealed and swayed their way down to waterfront Royston to jill-poke and splash their valuable loads into the chuck. All this might come to mind for those who know the history of the Comox Valley and might otherwise feel a thread of connection with the log train shadows. They might know that the Comox Valley Half Marathon hugs the adjacent rail beds of some old logging railroad grades as the course winds its way through second-growth and into the higher reaches up on Burns Road. Runners will find these traces of times-past on the first real straight-away once they've left the terminal on Anderton and crossed the first kilometer bridge and climbed the rise onto Condensory Road; maybe it wouldn't occur to them to listen for the whispers of big steam and rumbling ties of the old broad gauge ribbon that brought prosperity to the Comox Valley.

But remnants of old rails still peek over at half-marathoners as the run by and the old iron speaks of that previous era when nearly every man or woman in the Comox Valley had some connection with taking big timber. The Comox half marathon race pays tribute to the difficult forgotten times and the gargantuan efforts that local folks put forth everyday to transport harvested timber from the hills to the water's edge, and it purposely places the half marathon runners on the same tracks dealing with the same hills and dealing with straight-aways as the old-timers once did. And it makes them sweat like old timers did too!

Finding rhythm in your stride and keeping control under power is the key to challenging this far-from-flat Comox Valley Half Marathon. Ignoring the signals for even-steady power as you pull away from the yard is runner's folly and can easily cause a wreck on the return if you haven't taken on water before steaming back downhill. Many runners discovering the Comox Valley Half Marathon for the first time learn a cruel lesson and fall victim to the long slightly inclined grades that bait them into over-stoking the firebox and leaning too hard on the Johnson which often results in the pitiful wrecks of best intentions and broken dreams that are found littering the ditches over last few kilometers of the course. Those that heed these words and fire steady-steam do well in this race - those that do not; crash and burn. 

The wheels didn't come off of the Ladysmith Striders train with five hot-steam enthusiasts joining almost 600 other finishers to charge-up some super-heated finishing times. David Van Horne and Phil Howard were heavy on the throttle and brought the Van Horne-Howard Express back to the terminal in roughly an hour and a three-quarters with Bala Naidoo was swinging the lantern off the Baldwin's tail deck in 1:52:08. There was no wheel-slip for Pauline Naidoo as she whistled up another half-marathon course record and punched her super-charged ticket in at 2:01:23 shunting a three full three minutes off the Comox half-marathon record for her age-group. Shannon Peck who is never far off the mainline, steamed into the station with a hard-fought steady time and posted a determined 2:10:16 finish.

The Ladysmith Striders would like to thank the Comox Valley Road Runners race organizers and their tireless volunteers for their commitment to organize this road race and appreciate the time and effort it takes to hold this popular event.

Left to right: Pauline Naidoo, Bala Naidoo, David Van Horne, Phil Howard. Absent: Shannon Peck.

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window.  

Two more races left to run in the Frontrunners Island Race Series. The next race is the Merville 15K and Ladysmith Striders will be traveling north again to a fabulous location between Courtenay and Campbell River. The fast and flat Merville 15K is sponsored by the River Runners of Campbell River whose race organizers and volunteers will be ready to drop the starting flag at 11am sharp on Sunday, April 4th. The race starts and finishes from the Merville Community Hall.
 

March 14, 2010 - The Ladysmith Striders offer their sincere condolences to family and friends of fellow runner Karl Klein. He was a dedicated Frontrunners Island Race Series runner and the Victoria Times Colonist Bruce Mackenzie story below provides an account of Karl's passing.

March 7, 2010 - Bazan Bay 5K Striders Race Report --  The earth shook this past weekend and the epicenter of the quake was Sidney where 610 worthy and well-trained runners thundered over a flat 5km race course. The Synergy Health Management Ltd. Bazan Bay 5K  is the fifth in the eight event Frontrunners Island Race Series and is by far the most popular as many first-time runners turn out for this well-supported run.  

And so it was that another Frontrunners Island Race Series record was cracked and a new champion for the woman's 65-69 age group emerged. Pauline Naidoo sent a shock wave through the field and definitely triggered the Richter scale with her 21:15 effort that fractured the existing course history for her age-group by subducting two minutes off the record. If the foreshocks from Pauline's previous road races are any indication of the ground swell of raw running power, then the Frontrunners Island Race Series running community will likely continue witness a human compression wave of untold magnitude rumbling through the the last three road races. Obviously, the crush of tectonic running mass grinding the earth's mantle to rubble was no match for the sheer seismic strength of this Ladysmith Striders Wonder Woman. Congratulations to Pauline Naidoo on another earth shattering finish.

For a race overview, local triathletes recorded seismic moments for the top spots at the Bazan Bay 5K in Sidney. Simon Whitfield was victorious this year in 14:36 - having lost out in a sprint finish last year – clocked in one second quicker than 12 months ago. Kyle Jones- who was third last year - improved to second this year with a time of 14:38. On the women’s side, Magali Tisseyre recorded her third victory in this years Frontrunners Island Race Series in 17:03, as did top master Lucy Smith who claimed second place in 17:21. And then there was Maurice Tarrant who recorded another unofficial Canadian M80 record of 23:37 for the five kilometer run.

All ten Ladysmith Striders participants provided bedrock performances to keep their club at pace with the Westwood Lake Running Club who remain only three points ahead in club standings. This was only due to a monumental ground motion exhibited by the Ladysmith Striders team - the aftershocks will be felt for weeks to come!

A review of the seismograph shows an eruption of massive pace improvements for some Ladysmith Striders. Going with an accelerated flow were Tiffany Chapman and Daniel Howard who were just shy of grinding out a 40 minute 10k pace. In addition to Pauline Naidoo's magnitude nine performance, substantial harmonic tremors were recorded by other Ladysmith Striders. A tsunami of accolades to Bala Naidoo, Nikki Van Horne, and Shannon Peck for their top-ten achievements.

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window.  

It's up-Island for the next race. The Comox Valley Road Runners sponsored half-marathon in Courtenay is on March 21st and it features the longest run in the Frontrunners Island Race Series. The Comox Half Marathon is known for its long climb up into the back country and should produce an abundance of negative-splits as runners make the turn at the top and thunder downhill for the return. Get ready Ladysmith Striders, it's time to live up to your "Hill Tamers" name!!

Aftershock: A runner in Sunday’s Bazan Bay 5K in Sidney died after he appeared to go into cardiac arrest. The 67-year-old man from Courtenay collapsed shortly after the 9 a.m. race began. Several runners rushed to his aid and found he was not breathing. One runner began doing chest compressions, while another did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. They continued with the resuscitation attempts until B.C. Ambulance paramedics arrived. The man was taken to Saanich Peninsula Hospital, where he later died. The Ladysmith Striders offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of this dedicated runner. More...
 

February 21, 2010 - Hatley Castle 8K Striders Race Report --  All able lads and lasses turned out in bristol fashion as they toed the line on the good ship RRRC Hatley Castle. Moored securely on the shores of Esquimalt Lagoon, RRRC Hatley Castle is a fully found ship with a beamy eight kilometers and is well-rigged for running hard. Frontrunners Island Race Series runners regularly sight the hilly beast as a threat to their endurance and throwing all caution to the wind, they catch her square for a gangway start and send over 640 odd straight up into her rigging. The bark of the gun ran the mob down onto the narrow decks into the sulfurous bogs and around by the boathouse and straight up the mast -- a strong-hearted bunch intent on steeling themselves for the climb ahead. No favourable winds are offered for those who tackle her rigging and with a heel to the right she comes about with a long out-and-back. This fairly level keel is the quiet before the storm.

A punch of wind rights the vessel and whips lads and lasses down towards the foredecks and back on course. But the urge to weather this hearty incline is relentless for the ragged soles and it's a grab for the ropes as the mob veers uphill again for a real test of endurance. With a great deal of grunting and wheezing, the ascent causes much eye-bulging and lower lip chewing as the rigging strains to loosen and cast-off any and all fair-weather runners. Thighs and calves extend out for the highest yard-arm for it's only from this lofty perch that these incredible running scallywags can steal a seaward glance over a broad headsail before settling down onto the level rail and dashing out around the amidships. Amidships are drawn out through the gunwaled brightwork and tease the weary forward for a port-side plunge into the soggy bowels of the bilge. From here troubled runners throw up their gollywobbler with hopes that it will catch some favourable windage and push them over little-bugger and home to safe harbour. Alas, the RRRC Hatley Castle 8K was but a mild annoyance for the Ladysmith Striders who generously offered fourteen scallywags to climb into her rigging and by all accounts, finished the dastardly course with truly incredible times.

Weather-wise, the day presented tender on the helm as the sun warmed the shoulders of runners who waited in the gangway for voyage commencement and was quite comfortable in minimal gear of short-sleeves and shorts. There is no doubt that the Royal Roads Running Club are a hearty bunch of seafarers and the Ladysmith Striders wishes to thank the organization and their volunteers for providing a fun and challenging environment for running. There was lots of great food and drink for all runners after the race and Ladysmith Striders wish to thank the Royal Roads Running Club for presenting another fine Hatley Castle road race.

A touch-of-the-cannon salute is offered to all Ladysmith Striders who clubbed and scratched their way into some really fine performances. Again, repeat top ten finishes in their respective age groups for seven Ladysmith Striders and nearly all had top twenty finishes which garnered a treasure trove of club points allowing the Ladysmith Striders to retain seventh place overall in the battle for club standings. A booming acknowledgment for sensational runs is directed at Vincent Johnson and Pauline Naidoo for touching the tape in first place for their age group categories. And a respectfully touch-of-the-forehead salute to Tiffany Chapman, Afton Halloran, Daniel Howard, Denise Aucoin, and Bala Naidoo for their top-ten achievements.

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window.  

Next race is back on the Saanich peninsula where the Synergy Health Management Ltd. Bazan Bay 5k will commence in Sydney on March 7th at 9am. This is by far the fastest road race in the Frontrunners Island Race Series and the Ladysmith Striders are sure to be there.
 

February 7, 2010 - Cedar 12K Striders Race Report -- For years the Nanaimo Bastion Running Club has wrung out a number of challenging routes from the ribbons of back roads and as a result of the determined testing - involving much poking and prodding and exploring of the surrounding countryside - the club has stitched together a formidable running event that come to be known as the Frontrunners Island Race Series Cedar 12K Road Race. The Cedar Road Race has been staged on a number of different routes in the past and credit must be given to Nanaimo Bastion Running Club for settling on a running route that challenges the hearts and minds of both serious and recreational runners. The fabric from which the Frontrunners Island Race Series Cedar 12K Road Race course was cut provides a challenge for every level of runner. There are nicely pressed straight-aways with thin yellow creases centering the middle to keep running flesh from being burned by passing motorists. There is a slight gathering of hills that are folded strategically into an elevation change a quarter of the way out which weighs heavy on runners as they know their mettle will be tested on the return. And stretched out changes in grade which develop over long sight lines can tease out doubt and furrow the brow of even the most experienced road racer. This course is intended as an "out and back" contest with only some of the wrinkles smoothed down and it is for this reason that many runners in the Frontrunners Island Race Series pull this road race off their "Perhaps List" and plant it firmly on their "To Do List".

Ladysmith Striders are always ready to challenge any road race that involves folds in fabric and a number of them entered this years event. And again - like the first two events in the Frontrunners Island Race Series - twelve Ladysmith Striders participated the event and placed very well in the standing. Seven Ladysmith Striders placed top-ten in their age categories and one Ladysmith Strider broke the course record for her age group. Congratulations go out to Vincent Johnson, Tiffany Chapman, Afton Halloran, Daniel Howard, Nikki Van Horne, Bala Naidoo, and Pauline Naidoo for their sensational finishing times. Special recognition is extended to Pauline Naidoo who crushed the Frontrunners Island Race Series Cedar 12K Road Race course record for the F6569 age group by a whopping four minutes. Pauline's finishing time was an incredible 1:05:08.

Congratulations to the Nanaimo Bastion Running Club for both sponsoring and presenting the Cedar 12k road race. Nanaimo Bastion Running Club has again done a great job of organizing this annual event and special thanks are directed to their troop of dedicated volunteers that hold the key to success of the event.

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window.  

Next race is a Royal Roads Running Club sponsored Hatley Castle 8k race in Colwood on February 21st that takes place on the hills of the castle grounds... get ready!!!... should be no problem for the Ladysmith Striders Hill Tamers!

February 4, 2010 - Ladysmith Striders Run on TAKE-5 Cover -- From out of the forested trails onto the cover of TAKE-5 Magazine, Ladysmith Strider Chris Geens sprints ahead of Ladysmith Strider running-mates Bala and Pauline Naidoo providing a photo opportunity for the January cover of Ladysmith's own community publication called TAKE-5.

The January edition of TAKE-5 Magazine trumpets the value of embracing a healthy life-style with their Focus on Health issue and no better illustration of this life-style would be the running activities of the Ladysmith Striders who regularly meet on Sunday mornings at Esquires Coffee. Ladysmith Striders is a organization of casual runners and walkers who are committed to promoting fitness and recreation in a friendly club environment where all levels of runners and walkers are welcome. The Ladysmith Striders regularly explore the surrounding areas of Saltair and Cedar and is always looking to enlarge their group of running friends.

Ladysmith Strider regularly meet at Esquires Coffee in Coronation Square at 7:30am. (Click here or image on the right to read feature TAKE-5 story)

January 24, 2010 - Cobble Hill 10K Striders Race Report -- While the weather forecast called for rain, it was sun warming the shoulders of 563 participants that gathered at George Bonner School in near Mill Bay for the Cobble Hill 10K. Beginning on a dead-end road near the school, runners kicked and tossed their warm-up gear aside for an 11am start in the second road race in the eight race Frontrunners Island Race Series on a ten kilometer course that has become a favourite for runners both up and down the Island. Runners tackled the fast and challenging course that combined an early out-and-back leg that was straight as a gun-barrel with a loop later on in the contest that drew runners over some rolling hills that were guarded the whole way by a protective canopy of Island conifers. While the course was not closed to traffic, all runners managed to safety dodge the rogue vehicles and return to the finish thanks to the care and good nature of the Ceevacs Volunteer Course Marshals and Traffic Directors.

Ladysmith Striders were keen to race on Sunday with fourteen individuals making the drive down Island to Cobble Hill from the Ladysmith/Saltair area. The Ladysmith Striders again took the bit between their teeth and placed very well in many age categories. In fact, the Ladysmith Striders placed top-ten in seven age categories which really rung up the points tally for club standings. Congratulations to all Ladysmith Striders as their great effort has secured their position in the top-ten in club standings for the second race in a row.  And for the second week in a row there is special mention of Strider participants Simon Timmer, Tiffany Chapman, Afton Halloran, Denise Aucoin, Daniel Howard, Bala Naidoo, and Pauline Naidoo who all broke top ten in their age divisions.  Go Striders!

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window. Special congratulations go out to Pauline Naidoo who cracked number-one position in her age group with a 10K finishing time of 53:59. 

                                                             Photos Courtesy of Don Carson - Click to Enlarge 

Next race is a Nanaimo Bastion Running Club sponsored Cedar 12k race on February 7th. Hope to see a good contingent of Ladysmith Striders there.

January 10, 2010 - Pioneer 8K Striders Race Report -- A mild winter day brought out a crowd of 674 runners to the Central Saanich Fairgrounds for the 2010 Pioneer 8K road race. The Frontrunners Island Race Series kicked-off on Sunday with club representation from not only the greater Victoria area, but up Island all teh way to Campbell River. The road race is part of the BC 8K Championships which brought out some keen competition. Congratulations to the Prairie Inn Harriers for offering up another great road race.

Ladysmith Striders were well represented at the road race with 16 individuals participating. The Frontrunners Island Race Series is a much anticipated event for the Ladysmith Striders and judging from the results a number of Striders have set the bar pretty high. Congratulations to all Ladysmith Striders as they have placed the club at sixth position overall in club standings which is sensational considering there are 62 clubs registered this year. Special mention goes out to Afton Halloran, Denise Aucoin, Bala Naidoo, Simon Timmer, and Pauline Naidoo who all broke top ten in their age divisions.  Go Striders!

Ladysmith Striders results are outlined in the table below. Click the participant names to view individual statistics which will open in a separate browser window. Special congratulations go out to Simon Timmer and Pauline Naidoo who cracked number-one positions in their age groups with finishing times of 32:44 and 42:55 respectively. 

Next race is a CEEVACS sponsored 10k race on the Bonner School course at Cobble Hill on January 24th. As a friendly reminder to Ladysmith Striders, the Cedar 12K is coming to our area on February 7th and it would be tons-of-fun to make that road race out Sunday morning run. Hope to see you all there!!

January 3, 2010 -- It's that time of year again when many runners begin to gaze into the new year and ponder the running calendar challenges that lie ahead. No doubt there will be some Ladysmith Striders that include themselves in this group as many Striders participated in the Frontrunners Island Race Series last year. For Ladysmith Striders that are considering the fun again, the Frontrunners Island Race Series begins on January 10th so I think it appropriate here to provide a friendly reminder to take advantage of some cost savings by entering early. And when entering, don't forget to record that you are from the Ladysmith Striders. 

For your further awareness, runners who complete all eight races in the 2010 series, or eight races and volunteer at their own race, will receive a gift certificate from Frontrunners entitling them to 50% off the series registration (without shirts) for the 2010 series. Check out the schedule below.

Frontrunners Island Race Series 2010 Schedule