Race: B&O Yorkville 5k
Date: September 9, 2012
The Legend of Johnny Jogger – Part 6
Running Royalty, a tale of age meeting youth, great weather, great prizes. This year’s B&O Yorkville was simply perfect.
The main attraction was the prize: Each age winner would receive a pair of Ecco Biom shoes valued at up to $240 depending on the model. But that was not why I entered. I swallowed the $60 fee because my pal John Tranter looked genuinely disappointed when I told him I was not doing it. I already knew Nelson Ndereva was in my age group and on the confirmation list. I had no chance to win those shoes. This was all for Johnny.
John was aiming for top place in Roadracerankings for the 60-69 age group. John’s nemesis from his early years, John Clarke, had a strangle hold on the 10k title. Mr. Tranter was hoping to turn the tables on Mr. Clarke for the 5k distance. This would also be a good challenge as both contenders would be racing head to head.
John and I did a few strides to limber up and made our way to the start line. I kept telling John to move up. More and more people were entering from the front and pushing us back. John being the humble sort wasn’t getting pushy. So we started a few too many rows back surrounded by kids. No respect I say! But really we love it. These kids are the future of our racing scene.
So we were off and did our best to weave around the kids who quickly faded. John was leading the way and I was working hard just to keep up! But we had to keep it quick as the first 2k were down Yonge Street, and soon we would be climbing the next 2k back up Avenue Road. So at 1k I passed John and picked up the pace. I knew he would stay close behind. As expected we bled time over the third and fourth kms. We were aiming for 17:30 but lost it here. A turn onto Davenport saw the 4k marker and some forgiving grades where we could kick it again. I crossed in 17:51 and John in 17:57 which would be the number one result in Road Race Rankings for the 60-69 age group.
We both agreed we had not sacrificed nearly enough. As with so many races this year, John was disappointed. I had been chasing a 14 year old female, John a 13 year old male. We should have reeled them in before the finish. We had started surrounded by kids and finished surrounded by kids, including Team Running Free kid Alexandre Maycock (age 13) who by coincidence is coached by the very same John Clarke. Watch out for young Mr. Maycock, we will be seeing more of him in future races.
A lucky surprise for me, Mr. Ndereva bailed on the race leaving the spoils for my own. Johnny and I and Alexander represented Team Running Free atop the first age category, each of us claiming a pair of those Ecco Biom shoes. As it turns out, this was the best prize I would win this year.
And to top my day, it was Wesley Korir (winner of this year’s nasty Boston) victor of today’s affair by a full minute over the usual suspects from the Hamilton area. He could have loafted home, but kept his foot firmly planted on the gas. His 14:05 was superior to anything Ontario runners have done this year. Should we be surprised? Wesley is one cool dude, and shared his time freely with everyone at the awards stage, young daughter straddling his shoulders. I hope he wins Boston again.
So many races, so many more reports I could write. Perhaps enough for this year. But if I do get one more off, it will be about Guelph’s Thanksgiving Day races put on by the Guelph Victors. The mile/5k/3k combo was just awesome, and one of the few events where you can race a certified mile. Do you know what your fastest mile is?
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Please read my review of the Ecco Biom A.
Previous: The Legend of Johnny Jogger (Part 5)
Next: The Legend of Johnny Jogger (Part 7)
Other related reports: Road2Hope Half, Road2Hope Marathon, Guelph Thanksgiving Day Races
