By Leslie Ann Bent

Wow! I’m so impressed with our club this weekend. Seven teams totalling 18 participants came out to do 30km in honour of the famous Around the Bay race which in pre-COVID times took place in Hamilton on the last Sunday of March since 1894 – the oldest race in North America. Whether you run for speed & competition, personal goals & accomplishment, camaraderie, to enjoy the fresh air, or just for general fitness, there was something for everyone this weekend. I’m very impressed with all of the accomplishments. Congratulations to all!

Yesterday’s virtual teams got us off to a good start with Triple Trouble setting the bar for the 3-person relay with an official time of 2:53:13. Spectators Danny and Leslie Ann were there to take pictures and cheer on the team. While chatting, both realized that together they had completed 30km themselves that day so put in a last-minute entry!

Today, the runners went out in a staggered-start format to ensure good social distancing. The out and back format with the 5km returning to the start and finish, allowed all runners to see club members along the course. Steve E. was our first runner to start, managing his team to a first-place finish in the two-person relay category. Mark, Ken, and Vanessa were next to head out into the drizzle as the first runners on their respective teams. Over the course of the morning, Jenny, Maggie, Kayla C., Andy, Claude, and Stephanie all puddle-jumped their way through the course. The photos will tell the story of lots of smiles and lots of game face focused efforts.

This afternoon, Megen’s team Duck, Duck Goose, with Donna and Justin, completed their virtual run in the howling wind and rain to bring a close to the event.

It was a wonderful way to see other runners.

The fastest runner was Andy with a 15k time of 1:06:58. Top runner for 10k was Robin with an awesome time of 48:46. However, this event was all about the teams. Here are the results:

2-person relay – 15km each

1. Harry Trotters (Steve E, Maggie) 2:50:37

2. Staggering Geese (Mark, Andy) 2:52:18

3-person relay – 10k each, running category

1. Triple Trouble (Steve K, Jackie, Robin) 2:53:13

2. 2 Jacks and a Jill (Ken, Jenny, Claude) 3:07:24

3. Sooke Supremes (Vanessa, Kayla, Stephanie) 3:13:24

Walking – all under 6 hours!

1. Coffin Ready (Danny, Leslie Ann) 5:22 (some running)

2. Duck, Duck, Goose (Megen, Donna, Justin) 5:53:03

Comments from the participants:

Steve K: “This run was important to me. Although humbling, so rewarding. So great to see my friends. I needed today more than I knew.”

Mark: "It was so good to see many of my STARR friends this morning. Thank you, Leslie Ann for making it possible."

Jackie: “I had forgotten how good pushing so hard is!”

Stephanie: “That was fun today but it took me a whole hot water tank shower to properly warm up!”

Jenny: “It was great to see everyone out today, especially nice to pass familiar faces en route”

Robin: “Thanks Steve and Jackie for doing this. So much fun!

Thanks, as always, Leslie Ann for organizing and for coming out to cheer us in today.”

Andy: “I really liked the layout of the course. I got to see my teammate twice and the other runners as well. It was great to have opportunities to cheer everyone on as we passed.”

Congrats to all of our STARR runners. Thanks for the support for everyone who came out to cheer and take photos. It was inspiring.