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Record setting Valley Trail Run

More runners, more trotters in 14th annual event

With the sun shining and temperatures climbing into the mid-20’s, a record turnout of 123 competitors was at the start line of the 14 th annual Whistler Valley Trail Run on Sunday. The event raised over $3,000 for the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, where it will go towards youth initiatives.

Despite the heat, four racers managed to finish the 10 km race in under forty minutes, and four racers finished the 5 km race under 20 minutes.

According to the organizers it couldn’t have gone better.

"We were so blessed with the sun, but we also had great support from the community and the municipality," said Paul Vacirca, the head organizer for the event.

"What was really great this year is that we had free day care to allow parents to drop off their kids up to eight years old and do the race. We had about 15 or 16 kids, which means a lot of parents had an opportunity to run."

Next year organizers are looking into making a few changes. One change is to hold the race on Saturday instead of Sunday, giving weekender’s a chance to enjoy their Saturday night and have a day off to relax. Another change being considered is running the event on a different weekend that doesn’t conflict with as many races in the Lower Mainland.

Lastly, organizers are hoping to have a website with online registration for next year, starting as early as January.

"What we’re finding is that we’re getting a lot of people registering on the day of the race because they don’t live in Whistler or just found out about it. This gives people a little more time to plan ahead, to get in training, to get the family involved, that kind of thing," said Vacirca.

"We really believe with the Valley Trail system and the scenery and the volunteers we have one of the best races anywhere in the province, and we’re one of the only races with both a 10K and a 5K course.

The second annual Teddy Bear Trot for kids 10 and Under was also a huge success this year with 31 trotters running a short loop around the Village, often with the help of their parents. All of the participants wore bib number one, and all participants won a prize for taking part.

On the 10 km course it was two-way race for first place until the halfway point when Pemberton’s John Teitzel finally shook off Daniel McDuff. Teitzel’s final time was 36 minutes and 11 seconds.

"I don’t mind the heat," said Teitzel. "I prefer it a little bit cooler, but I’m used to it from running in Pemberton.

"It was a good course, very fast, which I guess was both good and bad because you couldn’t let up for a second. The hill in Blueberry at the end of the race really hurt."

Teitzel goals for the season include the Squamish Triathlon and the Lumpy’s Epic Run in Pemberton in the fall.

His closest competitor was Daniel McDuff of Seattle, who was making his third appearance in the Valley Trail Run in the 19 and Under category. McDuff was second overall and first in his category with a time of 36:59.

A competitive 800 metre runner in the U.S., McDuff will be racing track and field for his college in Portland this fall. He prefers short distances, but enjoys the odd long run as well.

"The heat was definitely a factor, but I was second last year and wanted to see if I had it this year to win," he said. "I d didn’t have it, but I’m still pretty happy with my run. The most I ever run is about 5 km, and that’s about how long I kept up to (Teitzel)."

The Pique’s own John Blok was third overall and first in the men’s 50 and Over group with a time of 38:19.

Denise McLaughlin of Garibaldi Highlands was 10 th overall and first among women in a time of 43:01

McLaughlin has only been running for the past two years, quitting smoking a few years before that. She got into racing by dating a member of Mt. Currie’s Wolfe family, which is famous for distance running. Now she’s taking part in the B.C. Provincial Triathlon series, and is running a marathon in Niagara Falls this October – her second.

"The thing is that I’m not really into road running, I prefer trail running, but it’s part of triathlons being on the road," she said.

In the Valley Trail Run the heat definitely took its toll. "It got really hot, it just came on us all of a sudden," said McLaughlin. "I live in Paradise Valley where it’s nice and shady, so that kind of took me by surprise."

Jennifer Tabbernor was second among women in the 30 to 39 age group with her time of 45:42. Caterine Yates was third in 46:02.

Results:

Men’s 10K

19 and Under

1. Daniel McDuff – 36:59

2. Christopher Laird – 50:25

20 to 29

1. Chris Hansen – 44:34

2. Shawn Swistak – 52:09

30 to 39

1. John Teitzel – 36:11

2. Martin Pardoe – 40:01

3. Richard Potter – 40:57

40 to 49

1. Arthur Dun – 39:57

2. Walter Wallgram – 42:28

3. Robert Tan – 46:03

50-Plus

1. John Blok – 38:19

2. Jannie Grobler – 45:48

3. William Goldstein – 48:29

Women’s 10K

19 and Under

1. Maria Shallard – 56:21

20 to 29

1. Jillian Bekar – 48:43

2. Sara Gardiner – 50:25

3. Denise Axelsen – 51:39

30 to 39

1. Denise McLaughlin – 43:01

2. Jennifer Tabbernor – 45:42

3. Catherine Yates – 46:00

40 to 49

1. Lynn Lueke – 48:48

2. Brenda Davidson — 48:48.9

3. Corinne Cowden – 49:55

50-Plus

1. Ginny Ladner – 54:50

2. Bettie Merrell – 57:07

3. Janet Robson – 1:07:52

5K Overall

1. Ryker Lammers (M) – 17:14

2. Jody Parry (F) – 18:05

3. John Lawler (M) – 18:47

4. Sean McCreanor (M) – 19:20

5. Chris Rootis (M) – 23:04

6. Tina Pettit (F) – 24:02

7. Jacked Pearsons (F) – 24:24

8. David Levitsky (M) – 23:24.5

9. Angela Wotherspoon (F) – 24:28

10. Marty Lemieux (M) – 25:08.