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2012 Ladysmith Striders News Headlines

March 4	Bazan Bay 5K - Striders Race Report
February 26	Cobble Hill 10K - Striders Race Report
February 19	Hatley Castle 8K - Striders Race Report
February 5	Bastion Running Cedar 12K - Striders Race Report
January 9	Prairie Inn Pioneer 8K - Striders Race Report
January 3	John's Half-Fast Run Report - New Years Day Strider Run
January 1	Frontrunners Island Running Series Announcement

March 4, 2012 - Bazan Bay 5K - Striders Race Report

2012 Island Race Series: Records Smashed at Bazan Bay 5k -- (Victoria, BC – March 5, 2012) Seven new course records were set at Synergy Health Management Ltd Bazan Bay 5K yesterday, led by overall men’s and women’s winners, Geoff Martinson from Victoria and Malindi Elmore from Kelowna. Bazan Bay was the fifth race of the Frontrunners Island Race Series and had 679 finishers.

Martinson’s time of 14:20 beat the previous record set by Simon Whitfield in 2010 by 16 seconds, and was the 16th best ever performance. Second was National Triathlon Team member Brent McMahon in 14:44, and third was Dylan Haight from the Vikes in 14:48. Elmore’s time of 15:48 was the best performance ever in the Island Race Series, moving her to the top with 943 points – this is three points more than Jon Brown’s 1:03 result in the Comox Half Marathon in 2005. Second in the women’s field was Hilary Stellingwerff in 16:32 and third was Ellen Pennock in 16:54.

Elmore liked the new course: “It was a fast course and although slower than my track time, I was very pleased. I train with Hilary and it was good to see some good competition out there,” she said.

Two new 5K BC age-group records were broken. Lucy Smith’s 17:01 beat Nancy Tinari’s F45 of 17:07, and Nancy Baxendale’s 18:35 broke Catherine Irons’ F50 record of 18:47. Marilyn Arsenault won the masters women’s race in 16:54, and the men’s masters was won by Ian Hallam (15:31).

The Frontrunners Green Jersey for the fastest male sprinter over the last 100-metres was won by Byron Trajan in the open category (11.65) and Danny Keyes in the masters category (13.84). Marissa Murray won the female open in 15:17 and Marilyn Arsenault the masters in 16.44. -- Courtesy of Get Out There Magazine

In addition to records that seem to fall like dominos, ten Ladysmith Striders gutted out some fine performances. Denise Aucoin left it all on the course by powering to a 23:08 2nd place finish in her age group and while Pauline Naidoo copied that with her spirited 27:52 2nd place finish. Also top-ten in their age groups were Nikki Van Horne and Bala Naidoo.

Breaking top-twenty age group classifications to really pile on the Ladysmith Strider team points were Jack Porter at 25:53 and Laurel Szasz pushing through the tape at 26:40. Special mention to both Jack Porter and Brant Dame who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively for the sprint in their age groups. Finishing in strong positions were Dave Van Horne with a respectable 21:25, Brant Dame in 25:05, John Mountain who paced grandson Jack Porter and finished a few seconds behind him at 25:55, and Carol Van Acker who legged out a great race finishing in 34:31. Ladysmith Striders pushed their team points total to 328 which is good for 12th position in the Frontrunners Island Race Series club standings.

As always, the Ladysmith Striders offer congratulations to the Synergy Health Management Ltd. for both sponsoring and presenting the Bazan Bay 5k 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. 

Next race is up island in the Comox Valley on March 18th where a half in on the running menu. The Comox Valley 1/2 Marathon is sponsored by the Comox Valley Road Runners and is the only half marathon road race in the Frontrunners Island Race Series.

February 26, 2012 - Cobble Hill 10K - Striders Race Report -- I've been told that one of the most physically demanding activities that a human chooses to carry out is not what we running addicted weekend warriors might think -- which of course is road racing. Some might think the most physically demanding would be a feat of strength like pulling a school bus or airplane, or kettle ball juggling or even telephone book ripping. I've been told that the most physically demanding activity ever -- is shearing sheep. And while the Gutbuster series of races is more of what I would consider physically demanding, let's explore this sheep shearing further under the context of road racing.

The Ceevacs Cobble Hill 10K was postponed in January due to inclement weather conditions and the Ladysmith Striders were stoked when the make-up race was announced for late February -- late summer in Australia. Cool weather greeted the Ladysmith Striders made room in their calendar and took to the Cobble Hill outback for a fast-paced walkabout.

Sheep shearing is the process by which the woolen fleece of a sheep is cut off and removed from the animal and the person who removes the sheep's wool is called a shearer. It takes allot strength and stamina. Typically, each adult sheep is shorn annually and over time, the Australians have developed a unique culture around the industry. When a shearer removes fleece using shears or clippers, they will take as much fleece as they can in one arm movement --  called a blow -- by pushing the clippers smoothly as far as they can in one swoop.

Ladysmith Striders have developed a unique culture as well and it's also based -- like sheep shearers -- on strength and stamina. Sheep shearers are competitive blokes and it's not uncommon for a friendly shearing contest to turn into a cut-throat marathon event. Fair-dinkum I suppose, but pounding the steep hills around Ladysmith positions the Ladysmith Striders really well for pulling the fleece over any Australian's backside.

Dave Van Horne delivered the first long blow while striding carefully in heavy traffic through the first couple of bends. With a steady hand, he veered onto Wilkinson for an out and back. Mountain Runner took the second blow and barely missing a misguided sheela who perilously decided to muck about on one knee in the middle of the road while chasing an errant shoelace. Luckily, there was no contact and he managed to keep the shears engaged and the blow intact. Rounding the shank and heading back under the rump, Mountain Runner spotted smooth running Denise Aucoin the shears who took a third blow over the belly of Wilkinson and then advanced up through the narrow neck between the tall conifers. Accelerating quickly from a favourable position, Nikki Van Horne took the waiting shears while rounding the corner and slipped a fourth blow off the shoulders and down the spine with a centering move to ensure the fleece remained unharmed.

The course gradually tilted uphill and Dave Van Horne was secure with the advanced group and running well at what seemed like an elevated pace. He drove the fifth blow down the spine to finish the back. Mountain Runner could not catch the advanced group and instead latched onto anything that was big and up-tempo in an effort to hitch a ride up the long grade. Reaching the top turn around loop still puffing for more ground and shears in hand, Mountain Runner charged downhill taking the sixth blow over the rump and down the rear leg in an effort to pull back valuable ground that was lost on the ascent.

Meanwhile Denise Aucoin and Nikki Van Horne were making massive moves to finish the rest of the rump and legs, and were within sight of each other as they flew onto Nightingale. At this point Carol Van Acker took the hand-off and pulled the shears through the residual fleece to finish the final leg of the course. Up ahead Dave Van Horne was cleaning up the roustabouts and "London to a Brick" was cooking with gas and "Shag on a Rock". And from a corner behind, Mountain Runner was willy-nilly in battle for bragging rights with a bloody ringer of his own age group.

With the fleece classed, Ladysmith Striders proved once again that perseverance and determination pays off. Dave Van Horne clicked the shears to a brilliant 45:25 finish in a very competitive age group, while Mountain Runner drafted his way to a respectable 46:05 -- good for fifth place in his age group. Nikki Van Horne and Denise Aucoin finished within a minute of each other with Denise Aucoin scoring an under 50 minute 4th in her age group at 49:43 and Nikki Van Horne in sixth place with 50:29. Carol Van Acker's determined run placed her in the top-twenty with a finishing time of 1:12:27. Ladysmith Striders elevated their team points total to 240 in the Frontrunners Island Race Series club standings.

Thanks to the Ceevacs for persevering with the weather this year -- it takes an amazing group of individuals to organize and off-again on-again event. Special thanks as always, are directed to their troop of dedicated volunteers who came out to help at this postponed 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 back on the Saanich peninsula where the Synergy Health Management Ltd. Bazan Bay 5k will commence in Sydney on March 4th. This is by far the fastest road race in the Frontrunners Island Race Series  and the Ladysmith Striders are sure to be there.

February 19, 2012 - Hatley Castle 8K - Striders Race Report -- In the 1890s coal was king and on Vancouver Island the riches that coal generated provided the means to create a stately castle on a sloping waterfront property. Many years later these riches indirectly provided a beautiful backdrop for a very challenging road race -- the Frontrunners Island Race Series Hatley Castle 8K. In 1908 Coal Baron James Dunsmuir constructed Hatley Castle as his private residence and carved out a number of roads and trails out of the douglas fir forestlands which stand today as the most troubling 8K in the Frontrunners Island Race Series. While the castle and grounds stand as a symbol of Victorian wealth and power; the hills and trails stand as symbols of fortitude and stamina in a race that many veterans tend to shy away and pass over.

Coal can still be found at Hatley Castle but it comes in a different form - dedicated individuals running the trails and service roads transforming themselves under pressure into diamonds. Coal is a mixture of complicated organic molecules derived from ancient plants material, but heat and pressure changes its chemical composition into a nearly pure form of carbon called graphite which under extremely high pressure turns into something really amazing. Results from Sunday's 8k hilly course proved that hidden gems do exist at Hatley Castle and just require the heat and pressure of the serious climbs to bring their sparkling light to the surface. Four hundred and five amazing runners tackles the perilous hills and flashed up some very fast finishing times.

Ladysmith Striders took the form of pure carbon as six amazing runners braved the heat-generating hills and placed top-twenty in their age groups. Mountain Runner scampered up, over and back for a 3rd place 37:45 while Dave Van Horne was hard on the edge with a 38:25. Denise Aucoin shoved nearly all aside in her age group with a gleaming 2nd place 40:59 finish and Nikki Van Horne placed top-ten again as she blew away the hills finishing just seconds behind Denise with 41:37. Brant Dame hammered out a 45:36 effort and posted a super-fast finishing sprint. Shannon Peck grunted out a steady 6:38 pace over the course to finish in 53:02. The Ladysmith Striders are making a steady climb in the club points standings with 186 points.

Ladysmith Striders would like to congratulate Frontrunners Athletic Club for stepping up and taking control of the Hatley Castle 8K which had almost been stricken from the 2012 race schedule. We appreciate the time and effort that the volunteers and race organizers endured to bring this race back online for 2012 and the Ladysmith Striders offer Frontrunners Athletic 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. 

Next race is the Ceevacs sponsored Cobble Hill 10K race at George Bonner School in Cobble Hill that was rescheduled to February 26th. Hope to see you all there!

February 5, 2012 - Bastion Running Cedar 12K - Striders Race Report -- It was 9:50 on Sunday morning when I climbed into my car for the twenty minute drive to Cedar for the Bastion Running Cedar 12K. I parked on a side-road near the event and as I swung my legs out onto the road, I noticed a group of runners trot by seemingly lost their warm-up routine; heads tilted slightly downward with eyes focused forward on the road ahead. I popped the hatch-back and began my pre-race ritual by pulling on my own gear, tugging my laces, a quick pat over my PowerGels before slipping my water bottle into my Batman utility-belt; the vision of an intended triumph steadied my hands as I locked the car. When beginning my own pre-race warm-up, I wondered if everyone approached their own race the way I did and asked myself, "Do other runners follow the same routine as I do when they prepare... or do they hit the road with a long warm-up like those runners that just went by? With the my road race just minutes away, I wondered how many runners self-impose real pressure on themselves to perform and if they do, what happens if they don't live up to there expectations. I stood at the start of the  Bastion Running Cedar 12K with these thoughts circulating and concluded that what drives runners to meet their race day expectations must be "determination".

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become."
-- Buddah

Six other Ladysmith Striders joined me - Mountain Runner - for this Frontrunners Island Race Series event and I was pleased to see Carol Van Acker getting ready. Carol Van Acker had decided late last year to place the Ladysmith Striders Sunday runs on her calendar and has been running on the old Chemainus Hwy with the Ladysmith Striders pretty regularly now on Sunday mornings. This race would be her second race of the Frontrunners Island Race Series having already knocked off the Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K in Saanich.  In today's race, Carol Van Acker and I enjoyed the company of Ladysmith Strider regulars Dave and Nikki Van Horne, Bala and Pauline Naidoo, and Denise Aucoin. And it was these seven runners that demonstrated what a powerful tool "determination" can be to defeat discouragement.

 "Within each of us is a hidden store of determination. Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost." --Roger Dawson

Carol Van Acker is as determined as anyone I've met when it comes to finishing. She has a strong sense of self-devotion and self-commitment that provides the means to achieve her running goals and objectives. And individuals like her tend to be highly successful in their chosen fields because they have the determination to finish "the race" on their own terms. Carol Van Acker enjoys the company of her iPod while racing and whatever she listens to through her headphones must be something that sustains her will to succeed because Carol Van Acker always finishes what she starts.

"The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from the shore." --Dale Carnegie

Dave Van Horne ran well and shaved another 42-seconds of his previous personal best having now chalked up his fourth Bastion Running Cedar 12K finish. Mountain Runner ran with Dave Van Horne for most of the way by tucking in behind him early in the race and pretty-well hooked up with him as single unit as each runner took turns pushing each other at different times over the course. On the flats Mountain Runner drafted behind tall Dave Van Horne acknowledging the ride; Mountain Runner saving energy for the two finishing hills. Once onto the hills, he charged out ahead to grunt out the lead on the up-hill portions in an effort which allowed Dave Van Horne some respite over the last two climbs. It was a tank-emptying effort by Mountain Runner that seem to give Dave Van Horne a launch pad to fire down the final kilometer-long straight-away. Dave Van Horne clocked an impressive 57:11 personal best which was good for a top-twenty category finish. Mountain Runner unhitched about a kilometer back and chugged into the station a few boxcars behind at 57:31 breaking top-ten in his category.  

"A minute now is better than a minute later." --Anonymous

Ladysmith Striders ladies proved they were up for the challenge with top-ten finishes. Denise Aucoin claimed 5th place in her age category with a 1:00:38 finish, followed by Nikki van Horne and Pauline Naidoo who charged to the finish just over the hour mark with respectable times of 1:02:38 and 1:05:54. Nikki Vann Horne was awarded 10th place in her age category while Pauline Naidoo was on the podium with a first place medal in her age category.

Congratulations to John Durkin and the Nanaimo Bastion Running Club for both sponsoring and presenting the Bastion Running Cedar 12K road race. Runners from all over the Vancouver Island look forward to this event as it is the most geographically central location for a road race in the entire Frontrunners Island Race Series and fairly easy to attend. Nanaimo Bastion Running Club has again done a great job of organizing the event and special thanks are directed to their troop of dedicated volunteers who held the keys to unlock this very successful 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 the Hatley Castle 8K in Colwood on February 19th. Ladysmith Striders should take note that the CEEVACS sponsored Cobble Hill 10K race has been rescheduled to February 26th at George Bonner School in Cobble Hill. Hope to see you all there!

January 9, 2012 - Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K - Striders Race Report -- Every year in early January the Vancouver Island running community descends on the Central Saanich Fairgrounds to do battle in the Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K and even though there was an absence of shiny armour and razor sharp swords, a distinct sense of combativeness lingered in the air. The Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K road race is not only the first event of the Frontrunners Island Race Series, it's the first event in the 2012 Timex BC Road Running Series and the first event of the 2012 BC 8K Road Racing Championships. So with the kingdom's crown up for grabs, Island elite running knights and princesses along with an army of formidable weekend foot soldiers, all able-bodied noblemen and noblewomen pressed forward at the start while waiting for the battle to begin.

Ladysmith Striders attended Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K with a small legion of runners who fought the eight kilometer course valiantly. Three Ladysmith Striders sheathed their swords triumphantly with top ten positions within their age groups. Denise Aucoin claimed 4th place in her respective age group in 39:12, and new Ladysmith Strider noblemen recruit Jack Porter slashed and battled his way gallantly to a 43:44 fourth place finish in his age group in his very first Frontrunners Island Race Series. Nikki Van Horne sacked much of the competition in her age group with a hard-fought top twenty finish with 43:04. Also in the main field, David Van Horne warded off blows and finished his run untouched at 37:49; as did Mountain Runner who wiped his sword with a 43:44 finish. Mountain Runner boldly cut a swath through the running field to create a no-kill zone in "shield and protect" action for his 11-year-old grandson Jack Porter who finished alongside unscathed. The young Squire's protection detail was also ably assisted by his Uncle Brant Dame who finish the security sortie in a flanking position at 44:35. Guarding against any late race assaults were Shannon Peck and Carol Van Acker who battled to their under-the-hour finishes with respectable times of 53:14 and 59:16.

Ladysmith Striders would like to thank the Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K  Organizers and Race Volunteers for their commitment to organize this running event and acknowledge with appreciation, the time and effort it takes to organize this popular 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 CEEVACS sponsored 10k race on the Bonner School course at Cobble Hill on January 22nd. As a friendly reminder to Ladysmith Striders that some Cedar 12K fun is coming to our area on February 5th and it would real delicious to make that road race our Sunday morning run. Hope to see you all there!

January 3, 2012 - John's Half-Fast Run Report - New Years Day Strider Run -- It was a sound that brought forth memories. But not the ring-jingling of harness bells inviting holiday shoppers to drop coins in Salvation Army red kettles; nor was it the reverberating clang of a New York Stock Exchange opening bell that put runners on notice. It wasn't the country twang-clanging dinner dingle that one hears for a call to cowboy grits and gravy, and it surely wasn't the loud clatter of the Town Crier heralding important news to Saltair's fleet-footed citizens. However, it was a memorable sound that has touched Ladysmith Striders ears on every new year for the past five and a sound they have come to know and somewhat dread; a sound that has the ability to inflict difficult breathing and cause throbbing muscle discomfort. This memorable sound was the jaw-clenching fearful toll of "The B!@@#y Bell" which in the hands of a knowledgeable tormentor can quickly bring terror to unsuspecting lungs and can stamp the hell out any lingering toxins that may be lurking in the bloodstream after the previous night's New Years Eve festivities. And most Ladysmith Striders didn't know if that was good or bad.

Every year Bala and Pauline Naidoo offer their Saltair home to the Ladysmith Striders as a home base for their New Years Day 5 kilometres run. The Ladysmith Striders New Years Day Run is an annual tradition and to make it fun for all, The B!@@#y Bell was introduced as a way to tip the roadway and level it for all runners. The B!@@#y Bell is carried by someone who has decided to cover the five kilometers at a more pedestrian pace and it's used to carefully manage the speed of the more energetic runners. By ringing The B!@@#y Bell loudly, all the New Years Day runners are called back to the pack to regroup before turning around to begin their trek to the finish again. And if deployed with skill, the peal of The B!@@#y Bell can induce a significant sweat for the more energetic runners if allowed to move almost out of sight before invoking the sound of The B!@@#y Bell to call them back. In fact, some may consider the constant repeating of The B!@@#y Bell exercise to be an activity that could fall under the realm of torture. (queue the sinister laugh track here)

Eighteen runners and walkers shouldered the New Years Day trek by heading northeast on Olson Road to Seaview Crescent which gently curves down and around and up again to Sea Vista Road. Carrying The B!@@#y Bell this year were tormentors Maria Valekova and Bala Naidoo and it wasn't long before the evil and malicious twins began to work at putting the group through their paces. Down to South Oyster School Road and then up to Chemainus Rd and south past Byron's Food Market, the Twin Tormentors appeared to -- with obvious glee -- to enjoy casting the Ladysmith Striders out as far as they could before reeling them back to the pack; then casting them out again... and again... and again. And like a couple of cats playing with a bunch of exhausted rats, the Twin Tormentors rang The B!@@#y Bell to herald runners back to deliver the evil message - begin again sucker! ha-ha!

Sweeping left back onto Olsen Road, the group continued past the four-kilometer mark with a loop through the Princess Diana Park back to Olson Road. Princess Diana Park Trails provided the release point in which runners could ignore The B!@@#y Bell and simply enjoy the soft and secluded pathways for the final kilometer. Ladysmith Striders consider themselves "hill tamers" and enjoy a thorough workout, but it's likely that anyone watching this back-and-forth performance would just shake their heads at this type of idiotic chest-burning, leg-throbbing activity. 

With the end of the New Years Day run in sight, the Ladysmith Striders regrouped to forgive the Twin Tormentors for their evil and cruel behaviour; forgiveness for the obvious delight they seem to take in ringing The B!@@#y Bell when so many runners were nearly "in-the-next-province". But in addition, they regrouped to thank the Twin Tormentors for tacking probably an additional three kilometers onto the run which not only provided a healthy distraction to celebrate the first day of a new year, and also to show appreciation for playing a big part in helping to purge the residual effects of any excessive food or drink consumed during the previous evening's New Years Eve festivities.

The New Years Day run is an annual Ladysmith Striders event and is hosted by Pauline and Bala Naidoo. Not only does the run originate from their home, the Naidoos graciously insist that the Striders remain after the run for a light lunch, snacks, coffee, and as always, great conversation. Special thanks to Bala and Pauline for hosting this annual affair, and for their welcoming nature and abundance of goodwill. 
   

January 1, 2012 -- It's fun-time again Ladysmith Striders... time to lace-em on and get ready to scamper through the 2012 Frontrunners Island Race Series. Eight races spaced two weeks apart over four months is a true challenge for some runners; Ladysmith Striders known for their hill running are always willing to take the bit-between-the-teeth and give'er another go!  Ladysmith Striders had a great 9th place finish overall in the club standings and if you are considering the fun again, the Frontrunners Island Race Series begins on January 8th 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 2012 series will receive a discount certificate from Frontrunners entitling them to 50% off series registration (without shirts) for the 2012 series. Check out the schedule below.

Frontrunners Island Race Series 2012 Schedule