Peterborough Half, Half-a-half and 5K: talk about amazing weather. Who knew February could be so beautiful. And considering the Runners’ Choice subsidized bus left Kingston in freezing rain conditions, the break for this race couldn’t have been more welcomed.

This year the Peterborough event Race Directors changed up the course. It was a double loop and some extra hills definitely upped the drama on this race. Fort Henry Hill had nothing on the big hill Half Marathon runners had to face, TWICE. Ugh.

“On the second hill, I thought walking would have been faster than my running” – BL.

“It was a kick in the shins that when I crested that big hill, I got a blast of headwind in the face!” – RB.

2018 has been a tough winter for training but the crew who took on this race had to be doing something right. KRRA Member, Tim Gillespie finished Top Three Overall, and there were several Age Category medals brought back to Kingston.

There was a bit of a brush of fame with Canadian Champion Ross Proudfoot winning the Race with time to spare.

Credit to coach Al Cantlay for the training and sponsoring the bus.

Enjoy the full photo gallery, here.

The KRRA 2017 Race Series has come to a close. Once again, competition was greater over 2016. More members and a greater participation in the series amped the drama with a number of Age Categories decided at the last race.

This year’s Series Winners received New Balance running pants, embroidered with 2017 SERIES WINNER. The Awards Ceremony took place at Kingston Brewing Co., with guest speaker Reid Coolsaet sharing his trade secrets and best stories to a packed house.

Top 5 Men, Overall

1. Clay Patterson, 559pts
2. Scott Wilkes (tied with Tim, determined 2nd place with 1 more win over Tim), 527
   
3. Tim Gillespie (tied w/ Scott for points), 527
   
4. Mike Mackett, 481pts
5. Robby Breadner, 471

Top 5 Women, Overall

1. Suzanne Kerr, 567
2. Heather Ostic, 518
3. Lyndsay Glazier, 495
4. Cheryl La Force, 492
5. Lana Saunders, 461

The following are the Top 3 in each Age Category; by gender.
Top 5 Overall have been removed from Age Categories.

Top 3 Women <19

1. Sophie Saunder-Lambert
2. Juno Aiken*
3. Sierra Trueman*

Top 3 Men <19

1. Liam Bootsma
2. Cooper Barrie
3. Ché Breadner

Top 3 Women 20-29

1. Casey Kidson
2. Julie Bates
3. Alanna Kader

Top 3 Men 20-29

1. Alexandre Voinot
2. Jeff Shepherd
3. Robert Talarico

Top 3 Women 30-39

1. Kathleen Dorsey
2. Lesley Rudy
3. Andrea Rochon

Top 3 Men 30-39

1. Shane Gale
2. Ryan Dorsey
3. Luis Paico-Avilez

Top 3 Women 40-49

1. Tammy Pigion
2. Annie Riel
3. Stacey Berdan

Top 3 Men 40-49

1. Kevin Beatty
2. Kevin Webster
3. George Semple

Top 3 Women 50-59

1. Nancy Ball
2. Pam Mundell
3. Janet Shepherd

Top 3 Men 50-59

1. Wayne Rice
2. Richard Prinsen
3. Rick Royce

Top 3 Women 60-69

1. Deb Holtom
2. Shirley Myers
3. Mary Jane Phillips

Top 3 Men 60-69

1. Al Cantlay
2. Ken Hook
3. Ed Brand

Top Woman 70+

1. Liz Walker

Top 3 Men 70+

1. Richard Sunderland
2. PJ Marshall
3. Tony Dunbar

This is the first time this challenge is being offered in the Kingston area. The Tri-Island Race Series (or the Triisland as some are calling it) launches this year (2016). Made up of THREE road races, the Tri-Island Series takes place on three different Islands between May and August. Participation is the key to this series as runners who complete all 3 events will be awarded the Tri-Island Series medal.

Howe Island Hustle – An 8k race on the south shore of Howe Island in May. This event is the first of the three races. Anyone who participated in this race is well on their way to earning the Tri-Island medal. A kids 1 mile race ensures fun for the entire family.  Click here.

Wolfe Island Classic – Sunday July 3rd, 2016.
The 5k Wolfe Island Classic is race #2 of the Tri-Island series. There is also a 10k race and Kiddie Kilometre (does not qualify for the Tri-Island). If you haven’t run this race before, it’s fantastic! www.wolfeislandclassic.com

Wooly Bully Races – Sunday August 14, 2016
Located on Amherst Island, there is a 5K, 10K and 1K for the kids. This is a great family event. Please note that you need to complete the 10k distance to be awarded the Tri-Island series medal. Click here.

Each race recognizes top overall and age category winners, earns you KRRA Race Series points* (see events to specify) and has lots of prizes and giveaways. The best part of completing this mini race series is the achievement medal earned. This new medal has been custom designed and is awarded only to runners who complete all three races in the same year.

Be the first runner in your crew to achieve this trifecta and enjoy these three excellent race events!

Please note: kids races are not included in the series.

Organizing a running event is similar to training for a running event in a number of ways. It takes dedication, a bit of obsession, a lot of hard work, the support of family and community… and, beautiful weather certainly helps. The inaugural Howe Island Hustle 8K event which took place on Saturday May 7th had all those components (and more) and came together so smoothly and enjoyably, it’s like The Hustle always existed.

130+ runners (kids and adults) navigated the ferry with ease, to arrive at the beautiful location on Howe Island. Howe Islanders were fantastic hosts as the main volunteer crew, pulling out all the stops to make runners and their families’ visit most enjoyable. Fire trucks flashed and managed traffic (thanks to Howe Island Fire and Rescue) and food abounded on the pristine south shore of the Island.

The first race was the Kids 1-Mile Run drawing runners from 12 years down to toddlers. All the children receive an excellent race kit of toys courtesy of Toy-Sport Agencies. As well, all top five finishers are invited to contact Limestone Mile Race Director robbybreadner@krra.org to receive FREE race entries to Canada Day Limestone Mile.

Top 5 Kid finishers

1. Leo Kilburn (M10)
2. Thomas Coulter (M8)
3. Sophie Saunders-Lambert (F9)
4. Willow Breadner (F9)
5. William Kerr (M6)

Full Kids race results can be found here.

Immediately following the Kids Race was the main event. The 8K Hustle had 107 runners take on the challenge. Comprised mostly of local participants, runners did arrive from as far as Montreal and St. Catharines to race. Conditions were warm with a bit of a west wind providing a nice breeze on the 4km out and a helpful tail wind on the 4km back.

Much of the course hugged the Island’s south shore for an almost distractingly beautiful vista. Though the course was fairly flat, there was one challenging hill about 2km from the finish, where much of the drama unfolded as some runners used it as passing point.

Once again, Runners’ Choice coach Al Cantlay’s influence could be seen as the top two competitors duked it out for a one-two finish. While our beloved Twosome Race Director Kevin Webster held the reigns for much of the race, upstart Jeff Shepherd came from behind and battled him for the win.

Top 3 male finishers

1. Jeff Shepherd (30:18)
2. Kevin Webster (30:38)
3. Sebastian Scott (30:55)

 Top 3 female finishers

1. Veronica Allan (30:39) < 3rd overall
2. Beatrice Cigagna (31:10)
3. Suzanne Kerr (31:55)

Overall results can be viewed here via Running by Design.
Results by age category can be viewed here via Running by Design.

The consensus by runners was that course was fast (don’t worry, it was triple measured) and there were more than a few personal bests set.

Following the race, a fantastic barbecue was served including choices from the grill, salads, desserts (with East Side Mario’s own Dan Lambert at the helm) and iced cold beer (complements of another sponsor, Steam Whistle Brewery) which went down very easy on such a warm sunny day.

Awards were distributed to top finishers, along with many giveaways. Thanks to photographer genius, Peter Stokes who documented the entire day, capturing the very positive community vibe.

Be sure to visit Peter’s photos here.  They are amazing.

Thank you…

KRRA President Lana Saunders managed the Hustle as Race Director like a pro, bringing together two communities (runners and Howe Islanders) for a memorable experience. Profits from the event are going to the Howe Island Baseball and Recreation Fund, to bring basketball to the island.

Special thank you’s go out to all the volunteers, runners, fans and families who attended. And of course, the day wouldn’t have been a success without support by generous sponsors (as yet mentioned): Runner’s Choice, DrugSmart Pharmacy, the Ferry crew, Novellis, Running by Design and to the residents of Howe Island who welcomed our invasion.

(editor: Now you’ve done it. We’ve discovered your beautiful Island paradise and we’ll be back next year for Howe Island Hustle 2017 or possibly sooner.)

Next up…

If you liked the Howe Island Hustle, you’ll love the TRI-island Race Mini-Series. Run the Wolfe Island Classic and the Wooly Bully Run on Amherst Island this summer and receive a special medal ONLY for those who participate in all three island events.

The KRRA’s next race is the Canada Day Limestone Mile event. The roads are closed, there are three races in the morning: Kids, Women, Men. It’s fast, furious and fun. Build a team. New this year: medals for Masters (40+) for top three men and women. Registration opens very soon.

The Limestone Race Weekend, Kingston’s biggest annual running event, wrapped up on Sunday, April 24, which turned out to be a beautiful spring day. Each race saw larger numbers over previous years, and judging by the broad, weary smiles and fast finishing times, many runners relished the friendly competition. Weather conditions ranged from dry and cool, to partly cloudy with 100% chance of…mayflies. Half-marathon finishers arrived with dozens (hundreds?) of these tiny black bugs stuck to their faces and clothes, but the pests proved no distraction for focused athletes.

Saturday action…

Saturday’s Kids 2K START2FINISH was more accessible this year as the race changed venue and distance. The entire course is now off-road, winding through MacDonald Park. Children as young as three years old took on the challenge to win prizes generously donated by Runners’ Choice and Kingston Clippers Soccer Club, among others.

The KGH Trauma 10K Run followed with 111 purple-clad participants blasting through the mayfly clouds to Portsmouth Harbour, Ontario Park and back to the finish. (Did the thermometer drop 10°?)

10K Top Males:

1. Ryan MacDonell 34:29.31
2. Tom Glassco 35:04.91
3. Alex Drover 36:48.66

10K Top Females:

1. Erin Gregory 39:09.59
2. Suzanne Kerr 40:18.18
3. Kendra Burns 42:22.41

Sunday action…

Sunday’s 5K and Historic Half Marathon could not have been held under better conditions and speed was the order of the day with an unusually large number of sub-1:30 finishes in the Half. Four of the top 10 Half finishers cheered their coach Al Cantlay of Runners Choice, who had his fingerprints all over their amazing times.

5K Top Males:

1. Jeff Costen 15:32.3
2. Kevin Azocar 15:40.2
3. Clay Patterson 15:45.8

5K Top Females:

1. Julie Anne Staehli 17:28.6
2. Brianna Bradley 18:05.5
3. Veronica Allan 18:50.3

Historic Half Marathon Top Males:

1. Jeff Archer 1:14:29.8
2. Trevor Reid 1:21:09
3. Tim Gillespie 1:21:51.7

Historic Half Marathon Top Females:

1. Katie Phillips 1:21:19.9
2. Paula Wiltse 1:25:25.5
3. Maureen Mahoney 1:25:49

Click the following links to view complete results for the 5K Race, 10K Race and Historic Half Marathon Race.

The 3-Person Team Competition was held for the second year and more teams took up the challenge, showing the depth of talent in the Limestone City. The second place team were out-of-towners, but the first and third place teams were homegrown. Both teams came out of the ranks of Al Cantlay’s coached Tuesday nights (notice the 3rd place team’s name) and Saturday sessions. For those unfamiliar with this added component of Limestone Race Weekend, each team is comprised of one participant from the 5K, 10K, and Half races; with minimum one female. Finishing ranks are added together and the team with the lowest score is adjudged the fastest team.

3-Person Competition Top Teams:

1. Humble Kevin & the Kids: Kevin Webster (5K: 9th), Louise De Lannoy (10K: 17th), Robert Talaricio (Half: 6th)
2. Future Glue: Remy Binns (5K 4th), Tom Glassco (10K: 2nd), Laura Seeley (Half: 40th)
3. See You Next Tuesday: Jacquie DeWolfe (5K: 31st), Todd Biggerman (10K: 9th), Scott Wilkes (Half: 7th)

Click here for the full list of teams and team rankings. A big thank you to sponsors Kurtis Marlow and Sport-Glo Apparel for the generous prizes they dedicated to this team competition.

Thank you to the Race Team, volunteers, sponsors, contributors…

A huge thank you to all the people who made this event such a success. The KRRA race committee headed by Race Director, Ed Brand, invested much time and energy; bringing in an army of helpful volunteers (some from the actual Canadian Army) to put hands to tasks. Thank you to all the runners and fans who cheered them on.

The event would not be possible without the great support of KRRA’s generous sponsors who committed funds, goods, prizes, services, and time, notably the following:

• Runners’ Choice Kingston
• Saucony
• Align Orthotics & Rehab
• K-Rock, 93.5 Country, KISS 102.7
• Health in Focus
• Sport-Glo Apparel
• East Side Mario’s (Weller off Division)
• DrugSmart Pharmacy
• Pam Mundell Financial Services
• The Water Store
• Kingston Brewing Company
• 365kingston.com
• Kingston Clippers Soccer Club

Photos…

Here is the first link to LRW photos from the Sunday which were taken by local photographer Peter Stokes. More photos will be arriving but this should tide you over for now…

See you next year…

Mark April 29-30, 2017, on your calendar for next year’s Limestone Race Weekend. In the meantime, enjoy other upcoming KRRA Race Series events: Howe Island 8K Hustle, Canada Day Limestone Mile, Fort Henry 5KXC, and other upcoming races supported by the KRRA.

The final tally for donations to the KGH Trauma Unit and START2FINISH fund is yet to come and photos of the event will be posted soon, so check back for an update on the KRRA’s facebook page, twitter feed, or on the KRRA website.

Could the day have been more perfect for running? The consensus was a resounding “NO”. And with that, on Sunday February 28th 2016, the Kingston Road Runners boarded a bus and traveled the Peterborough Half Marathon event.

In years past, KRRA members represented both the club and city well, with terrific athletic performances. This year was no exception. Strong finishes came from all the 20+ group who participated.

Here are the notable results:

• Suzanne Kerr placed 2nd overall female.
• Robert Watering placed 2nd age cat. M45-49
• Wayne Rice placed 3rd age cat. M50-54
• Lana Saunders placed 2nd age cat. F40-44
• Karen Millson placed 1st age cat. F50-54
• Shirley Myers placed 2nd age cat F60+
• Emma Langley placed 3rd age cat. F20-24
• Sophie Saunders-Lambert placed 1st F14. for the 5K

To view all race results, here’s the link to sports stats for the half marathon.

On an unfortunate note, a KRRA volunteer pace bunny, failed to successfully pace the time he had committed to. When he arrived at the finish 1+ minute under the pre-determined time, upon discovering the mismatch to the finish chute’s clock, he turned and ran; only to return a minute later hoping the crowd didn’t recognize him. No one was fooled.  (The majority of complaints about this pace bunny came from KRRA members.)

The day’s events concluded with a quick trip to the beer store and celebratory drinks on the bus ride home. Another successful day for the KRRA. Many thanks to Al Cantlay and Runners Choice Kingston who generously subsidized the bus to the race.

Check out the photos from the day, here.

I’ve been checking out pictures on Facebook posted by our friends at 365kingston.com and it reminds me what a great running community there is here in Kingston.  This past weekend there was a Kingston Road Runners Association Twosome race leaving from Winston Churchill Public School that was just fantastic.  There were superstar Queen’s (and national team) runners there like Julie-Anne Staehli right down to young kids (and even younger ones being pushed in strollers).  If you are a runner – and that means anything from strapping on your sneakers once a week when the kids are napping, up to full marathoner – we encourage you to take part in some of these races.  The running community here in Kingston is amazingly friendly, and you are sure to make some new friends through KRRA, and maybe even meet members of some local businesses like Runner’s Choice and Kurtis Marlow RMT.  We had Meg, Stacy and Cole representing Align in the race, and saw lots of familiar faces from our running assessment clients or those wearing our fancy compression socks – we’re looking at you Robby Breadner!

Above is a pic of Cole and some pals before the race.

— Written by Mac Graydon owner of Align Orthotics & Rehab who is: “committed to providing custom and individualized treatment solutions for each client to help alleviate foot and lower limb pain and sports injuries.”

Learn more about the services provided at Align Orthotics & Rehab. Visit their website: www.alignkingston.com

If you haven’t seen the photos from Limestone Race Weekend, click here. There are a great team effort with more to come.

5K and Historic Half Marathon Race day, April 26, 2015.