Comox Valley Road Runners were well represented at the 2016 Vancouver Scotiabank Half Marathon on June 26. The race welcomes many of the top runners in the country to a very competitive field.
It was a warm summer's day this year however, making the quest for fast times even more difficult on this challenging 21-kilometre course.
Kip Kangoga ran 1:07:03 to lead all racers along a scenic route that started on the UBC campus and wound along Spanish Banks, through Jericho and Kitsilano and over the Burrard Street bridge, to finish in front of a cheering crowd gathered in Stanley Park. Adriana Nelson was the first woman in a finishing time of 1:14:35.
CVRR runners used this event as part of their preparation toward their goals of fast fall marathons. They were led by Mike Bridges who has established himself as one of the top runners in the Comox Valley. He showed he is on the right path by finishing 58th overall and eighth in the M4044 age group in a time of 1:25:14.
He was followed closely by national elite masters runner Les Disher who demolished the field in the M6569 age group by 20 minutes with a gold-medal winning time of 1:27:04.
Also on the podium were Danny Keyes, M5559 and Wayne Crowe M6064 who had solid runs of 1:30:24 and 1:31:16 respectively to take home bronze medals in their age groups. Roger Palmondon also had a great run and was hot on Crowe's heels with a time of 1:31:24 and fourth M5559.
Local racers have a busy calendar ahead of them with the Fifth Street Mile, sponsored by The Joint Physiotherapy, taking place July 1 and the Comox Nautical Days Four Miler, sponsored by Jim Smiley Re/Max Pacific Realty, on Aug. 4. For details regarding participation or volunteering check out the website at cvrr.ca.