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Vacirca third in event in half-marathon

Whistler runner Goldstein tops age category in eight-kilometre race at BMO Vancouver Marathon
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PAUL'S POWER Pemberton's Paul Vacirca runs during the BMO Vancouver Marathon on May 1. Photo by Heather Vacirca

Paul Vacirca couldn't have wished for a much better day for the BMO Vancouver Marathon on Sunday, May 1.

With perfect temperatures and a beautiful view in front of him, the Pembertonian took a third-place finish in his 50 to 54 age division in the half-marathon.

"It was a nice little jaunt," he said. "The BMO Half Marathon has the prettiest course. It's gorgeous. Downhill through Yaletown into Stanley Park, it's stunning, so it was a real pleasure," he said.

Vacirca surpassed his goal of completing the course in 90 minutes, finishing in a time of one hour, 28:08 minutes (1:28:08), roughly 81 seconds behind the category winner.

A former Ironman, Vacirca said it's vital for him to keep pushing himself.

"I'm just trying to keep one foot out of the tombstone, one foot on land, and if I don't set targets, I lose it," he said. "I've been training for about eight weeks and we use these as markers.

"They're just little targets to keep me upright, healthy and happy. When I'm running well, I work well. My life is so much more balanced when I can get a little bit of running in."

Bill Goldstein, meanwhile, also hit the podium in his age group, scoring a win in the men's 60 to 64 eight-kilometre race. Goldstein, a committed participant in the Lifestages Lower Mainland Road Race Series, said with an ideal day on the course, taking the victory in a time of 39:40 was a breeze.

"I train all year long. I run competitively all year long," Goldstein said. "It was a pretty easy run."

In the full marathon, Vincent Pagot was the top Whistler finisher, taking 19th in the men's 30 to 34 event while Dean Skalski was 74th and Dean Eggleton was 112th. Daryl West, meanwhile, was 52nd in the men's 35 to 39 race. In the women's 30 to 34 category, Emma Bishop was 42nd, Lee Carroll 55th and Louise Stevens 138th. As for the men's 25 to 29 races, Roman Bruska was 107th and Lloyd Hamilton 174th, while the women in that age division were represented by Kate Hartshorn (105th), Eleanor Carty (155th), Katie Mills (158th) and Emily Carlson (222nd). Lastly, in the women's 40 to 44 event, Whitney Reynolds was 85th and Shauna Peachman was 98th.

As for the Pembertonians, Jen Glavas placed 44th in the women's 35 to 39 event.

In the half marathon, Pemberton's Greg Edwards was 47th in the men's 35 to 39 division, Jordan Sturdy was 98th in the men's 50 to 54 category and Brenda Lasnier was 59th in the women's 50 to 54 category. As for the Whistlerites, Louise Buchholz placed seventh in the women's 55 to 59 category, Ian Macleod was 23rd in the men's 45 to 49 division, Trevor Hopkins was 23rd in the men's 40 to 44 event, Christopher Lynch was 183rd in the men's 25 to 29 division, Philip O'Hara and Angus Wakefield were 118th and 186th, respectively, in the men's 20 to 24 event, Jennifer Black was 196th in the women's 45 to 49 event, Paul Boon was 210th in the men's 50 to 54 race and Suzann Rowden placed 359th in the women's 35 to 39 division.

Lastly, in addition to Goldstein in the eight-km race, Anita Cote was 29th overall in the women's 45 to 49 division and Lynn Gadsby placed 125th overall in the women's 40 to 44 event.