recent events
Nov 8 - CIS XC Finals
Nov 9 - Last Chance Half
Nov 22 - Okotoks XC
A couple weekends ago the U of C Dinos Cross Country teams headed east to compete in the university national cross country finals in Quebec City. Last year the Dino women's team finished 2nd place overall in the country, behind the Guelph team, and this year they finished 3rd, but still beat all other western teams to retain the Canada West banner. Team Captain Heather Sim placed 8th overall, which earns her a spot in the 2nd All Canadian Team. The men's team finished 5th overall, but also returned with the Canada West banner. Rookie Nyial Majock finished 5th overall and fellow rookie Gavin Hamilton placed 8th.
This weekend some of these university cross country athletes will be headed to Guelph for the open national cross country championships. The under-19 junior women run a 5k cross country course Saturday at 10:30am, followed by the junior men (8k) at 12:45. The senior women run the 7k course at 1:30pm and the senior men run 10k at 2:15.
On November 9th 489 people completed the Last Chance Half Marathon, the last longer distance run in Calgary until the Airdrie Half or the Police Half in April. The two fastest men completed the course in under 1:20, with Darcy Bell winning in 1:15:45.6 and Graham Diehl in 1:17:44.5. The fastest women were Jenny Godley in 1:28:50.6 and Michelle Milot in 1:32:01.6.
Last weekend the Calgary Roadrunners Club hosted their 4th (of 10) 8k winter cross country races, this one in Okotoks. Ken Myers won the 8k in 30:22, followed by Andrew Carruthers in 31:00. The fastest women were Shari Boyle in 35:09, and Lindsay McLaren in 36:37. Ninety-nine runners completed the 8k course, and 27 ran the 4k course.
A note to the runners over 30: I hope you know there's an indoor track season coming up, and there is a masters category and even if you're not a lightning fast 15-year-old, there's room on the track and very little age-group competition. I wouldn't say it's for everyone, but if you run intervals already, if you think you can bust out a decent 3k track time and don't mind running in circles for 15 minutes or less, then give the Dino Opener a shot on December 6th. The entry fee is inexpensive, especially compared to 5k or 10k races, and it's warm inside the Jack Simpson.
There are a few holiday-themed races coming up. The Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis is a 5k and 10k run starting at the Red and White Club at U of C this Sunday. Online registration is $45 for adults and the race starts at 9am. Package pickup is Saturday at the Tech Shop downtown. The Santa Shuffle is December 6th is a 5k run to benefit the Salvation Army. Registration is $25 and the race starts at Eau Claire Market at 10:00am. On December 14, the Catch the Elves 10K Run is a benefit for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Registration is $35 if you register by November 30. The race is also at Eau Claire Market. The last of the holiday events is the Resolution Run, which is a 5k on December 31 at 6pm. This event is sold out.
The next Calgary Roadrunners 4k/8k Cross Country race is Saturday, December 13th at noon in Silver Springs. The entry fee is $10 for non-members, $7 for CRR members, $5 for students, and the 1k kids race is free. The race director is also collecting donations for the Kerby House senior centre.
coming up
Nov 29 - 2008 AGSI Canadian Cross Country Championships
Nov 30 - Jingle Bell Run
Dec 6 - Santa Shuffle
Dec 6 - Dino Opener
Dec 13 - Silver Springs XC
Dec 14 - Catch the Elves
Dec 31 - Resolution Run
Jan 3 - Dino Classic
