Okanagan College Half Marathon

Yesterday I ran the Okanagan College Half Marathon in Kelowna. Formerly the Campus to Campus Half Marathon, the race is one of the few races in the Okanagan that offers prize money. I feel it is important to get out and support the races that offer prize money and support the development of high level running. It was definitely not a typical late March Okanagan day as there was a mixture of snow and freezing rain when I arrived at the race start.

With the Oceanside coming up next week I had to make sure I didn't empty the tank. My plan was to sit and kick similar to the Lakeside 5k. There was a decent group together for the early parts of the race, with fellow triathlete Dallas Cain and former 1500m Olympian Graham Hood setting the pace. Graham has been retired from running for a while but has signed up for Ironman Canada this year. Similar to myself he was out there for fun and around 6k into the race he said to me "You better not leave things too late. I still have some kick in these legs". At that point I thought I had better pick up the pace. I opened up a gap over the next 5k and at the top of the top of the hill (Same Knox Mountain route from the Apple Triathlon except done in reverse) I could see that the gap wasn't going to close. I rolled along to the finish, got the win and now feel great heading into my taper for next weekend. Super pumped to hit it hard in San Diego.

Graham was second and Dallas had a solid race to finish third. Keddi-Anne Sherbino kept her winning streak intact and was right on our heels to win the women's race in an impressive 1:21. However the winning streak will come to an end at the Ski 2 Sea in a couple weeks time. Despite her Fresh Air Experience trash talk, the 2011 Bike Barn Team will not be denied. Game on!

The race was super well organized with volunteers at every intersections even the ones where you went straight through. The aid stations had lots of people and supplies and were ready when I rolled through. I would definitely recommend this race for anyone looking for a half in March. As long as it doesn't interfere with a key triathlon I will be back next year to defend my title.

One thing I could have used out there was a doctor..... Cause my mullet was sick. If there had been an award for worst haircut I definitely would have won it. Aerodynamic in the front and a part out the back. After I cross the finish line a cute girl told me to turn around so she could get a picture of in her words "my better side", meaning the mullet. Not sure that was a compliment but I'll take it as one anyways. I'll probably shave it for Oceanside but maybe I'll keep it and shave in some racing stripes instead. We'll see.

Here are a couple news articles from the race.

CHBC video clip

http://www.castanet.net/news/Sports/61065/Rainy-race-for-half-marathon-runners

http://www.vernoncentral.ca/news/local-news/934-vernon-runner-places-2nd-in-half-marathon.html