Steve - long course winner!
By Leslie Ann Bent
It was -3C when I started my drive toward the Sooke Potholes for our STARR’s second annual “Predict Your Time” run. At least the sun was shining. Fifteen members and three volunteers ventured out in the cold to test their ability to predict their time (pacing skill) while ridding themselves of modern technology – no phones, no watches, no devices to help them keep pace.
There were two courses – the 8.6km long course which featured the Galloping Goose trail plus a side show through the Potholes campground. The short course stuck to the “Goose” but runners and walkers still had to be on their toes to ensure they didn’t go too far, or too short with two turn-around spots.
Andrea volunteered at the 2nd turn-around for our short course runners while cheering on the long course runners as they passed. Danny biked to the Potholes campground to ensure the long course runners had support. Andy marked the course in advance so we were very thankful to all of them for their help. Like every event, one runner did get “lost.”
Iris - short course winner!
On the long course, Steve E. took home the star trophy for being closest to his predicted time – just 6 seconds faster than expected. Iris earned her first-place medal – just 14 seconds off her predicted time on the short course. David spent most of his time on the course breathing down Jackie’s neck. He won the second-place medal for the long course, being just 42 seconds faster than his predicted time.
There is always at least one interesting story when we have a group of STARRs together. Paul opted for the short course. All was well when he was about 2/3 of the way through the course, passing the clock at the perfect pace. However, he turned at the first spot that that crossed the main road, looking like it could be the turn-around. Thinking the course was a little short as he made his way to the finish line, he told himself that maybe he turned too early. No Andrea and no fence had been in sight. So, after returning close to the finish line, he returned back up the hill to see if he could find Andrea and the fence. Despite adding perhaps a kilometer or kilometer and a half to his route, he crossed the finish line 6:13 slower than his predicted time. Still, he earned the second-place medal. The day did not end too badly for him.
Congratulations to all of our runners. Thanks to our volunteers. I think everyone had a good time.
Thanks Jill for the winners’ photos.
