Records were set, goals surpassed, and personal bests achieved by local runners at the Okanagan Marathon in Kelowna on the Oct. 12-13 weekend. Competitors could hit the bricks as part of a 10k walk or run, a full marathon, or variations between.
Tim Sander from Hills ran the full marathon in 3:27:02, coming in 12th in his age category with this personal best time.
Fourth in her age category, Kelly Waterfield ran a 3:59:56, which qualified her for the Boston Marathon. Waterfield dug deep, running with coach Janis Neufeld who crossed the finish line at the same time. Neufeld encouraged and paced her to make sure she got across the line under four hours so she would qualify for the Boston run.
“It was close!” Neufeld told the Arrow Lakes News. “Only four seconds to spare! She actually stopped a few meters from the finish line she was so exhausted. I physically grabbed her hand to keep her moving to get her across the line.” Waterfield had given her all in the run and had to be taken to first aid tent with low blood pressure and low blood sugar. “Toughest chick I’ve ever met,”said Neufeld.
Running her first marathon, Marie Wrede crossed the finish line at 4:16:59, ninth in her age category. Wrede is taking her time and running with it, back to half marathons, which she prefers to run.
Also in her first marathon, Nancy Balske completed the route with a time of 5:05:52. A personal best, she ran the first half of the marathon faster than she has ever run a half marathon in the past.
Competing in the half marathon, Natasha Miles from Hills was fourth in her age category with a time of 1:37:04, which was also a personal best time.
Rouve Hembling & Susan Fehler ran the half together and finished in a time of 2:19:37.
Rita Redavid had tons of fun in the 10k walk, completing it in 1:32:31. This was the first event of this kind she had ever taken part in, and she said she will be doing it again.
“Running is such a great sport,” said coach Janis Neufeld, based in Nakusp, B.C. It’s an activity that’s easy to get involved in, not expensive, and for everyone, she said.
Neufeld will be starting up and coaching a Nakusp Running Club starting November, with a separate group for beginners who are just starting out.
-with files from Janis Neufeld