Distance Junkies

Recently, some members of the McMaster men’s team have turned to the long race courses of the roads and trails to get their fill.  It started back on April 27th with men’s captain Jeremy Walsh making the jump right passed the marathon distance to compete in the Pick Your Poison 50km ultra race near Barrie, Ontario.  He won the event in a time of 4:06:24, winning by over 10 minutes.

On the same weekend, Around the Bay medalist Lionel Sanders made the trip to Kingston to take first place in the Limestone Half-Marathon in a time of 1:07:52.  In the 5km Limestone race Kingston local Blair Morgan placed second in a sprint finish behind Queen’s runner Jeff Costen, both finishing in 15:10.

A mere week later came “Half-Madness” with marauders heading to half-marathon races across the country.  Lionel Sanders came right back from his half the previous weekend to win the Mississauga Half-Marathon in a time of 1:06:30.  Just down the road, Keenan Viney and Ryan Tice raced the Goodlife Toronto Half-Marathon placing first and second in times of 1:10:43 and 1:12:22 respectively.  Finally, team manager Greg Lariviere celebrated his 21^st birthday with a 21km race; making the trip to British Columbia to compete in the BMO Vancouver Half-Marathon finishing in 1:20:04.

Jeremy Walsh was also lured out to the B.C. coast where he competed in the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series event on May 11^th.  The 14km trail race includes some tough mountain climbs and descents in Golden Ears Provincial Park on Vancouver Island.  Walsh placed fourth overall in a time of 1:02:06 in his first true mountain race.

Most recently two men returned to the trails of Dundas Valley Conservation Area, one of the team’s favourite training grounds, to compete in the Sulphur Springs Trail Run on May 25^th.  Returning from the mountains of B.C. Jeremy Walsh claimed third place in the 25km event in a time of 1:42:52.  Gregory Lariviere took part in the 100 Mile Relay race on a team with 7 others from the local Orienteering/Racing group Don't Get Lost, with each runner completing a 20km leg.  He anchored his team to a second place finish with a 1:23:14 leg, the team finishing in 11:35:28, breaking the old course record but coming up just short of the win.

Full Results:
Pick Your Poison 50km: http://pickyourpoison.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PYP2013-50km-Overall-Results.html
Limestone Half-Marathon: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=103561
Limestone 5km: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=104228
Mississauga Half-Marathon: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=103566
Goodlife Toronto Half-Marathon: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=104251
BMO Vancouver Half-Marathon: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=104287
5 Peaks Golden Ears Provincial Park: http://racedaytiming.ca/raceday-results?display=goldenearsenduro2013
Sulphur Springs 25km: http://chiptimeresults.com/resultsreader.php?y=2013&r=sulphursprings2.htm
Sulphur Springs Relay: http://chiptimeresults.com/resultsreader.php?y=2013&r=sulphursprings5RELAY.htm

With the end of May, it seems so too ends the distance season.  Most are now returning to the land of speed demons on the track or focusing on the strength to close out triathlons.