By Leslie Ann Bent

When some forecasters announced an atmospheric river on the weekend of our 10km race, I had visions of running through heavy rain and muddy puddles. However, the weather hype was just hype. STARR members came out to enjoy a local race, the 7th race in the Vancouver Island Race Series. Twelve STARR members were out in full force, rain or no rain. Most of our club members are very familiar with the route – a rolling road run along Sooke River Road that can get your heart pumping. Clucking chickens, cawing crows and flowing creeks, heavy with spring run offs accompany the sound of pounding feet along this popular VIRA course.

The race started with an Easter kids run complete with chocolate bunnies for the finishers. Stephanie’s daughter participated in that event. Lots of smiling kids held their valued prizes while the adults raced.

It was satisfying to run on a familiar course, knowing the location of the curves, descents, and steeper hills for better pacing. Not wanting to chance the weather and given no official early start for this race this year, I decided to start early under a clear sky and forfeit my official time. This choice worked out well as I was able to see all of the runners on the outbound route, cheer for our fellow STARS and see the lead runners perform as I’m never in their midst at a race. Brennen Smith (M25-29) of Speedfarm had a decent lead early in the race and held onto it. He was first to cross the finish line with a time of 32:17. Jennifer Erickson (F30-34) also of Speedfarm, placed first in the women’s filed with a time of 37:13.

The first STARR member to cross the finish line was Andy Smith with a time of 40:52, earning him a gold age-group medal. Perhaps it was Lucy Smith breathing down his neck en route that inspired him to run a little faster, shaving off a few seconds from his 2022 time. Our first female runner to cross the finish line was Pauline Nielsen with a time of 48:39, earning her a 3rd place age-group medal on home turf.

The post-race food was great (pizza, hot cross buns, carrot cake and other goodies). There were also a substantial number of fantastic door prizes for those who stuck around to the end. STARR scored big time with Stephanie winning the grand prize of a night at the Magnolia Hotel. Greg was also a prize winner.

STARR results

Andy Smith (M60-64) 40:52, 1st

Greg Balchin (M60-64) 46:47, 5th

Pauline Nielsen (F50-54) 48:39, 3rd

Stephanie Croft (F45-49) 49:45, 7th

Karla Sache (F35-39) 51:19, 9th

Melanie Eskildsen (40-44) 59:02, 9th

Maggie Curtis (F50-54) 59:30, 9th

Bri Fritzgerald (F30-34) 59:52

Kari Toovey (F45-49) 1:02:56

Sue van der Poelen (F60-64) 1:11:47, 8th

Bruce Hawkes (M80-84) 1:13:19, 2nd