A record number of participants took part in the third annual Run the Rock marathon and half-marathon on Texada Island August 25. A total of 90 runners and walkers completed the races, including a new eight-kilometre event which was added for 2013. Participants ranged in age from five to 78 and included one participant in a wheelchair.
Winners of the marathon were Roger Plomondon, of Courtenay, in 3:18.48 (men’s) and Samantha Dickinson, of Vancouver in 4:03.15 (women’s). Winning runners in the half-marathon were Wayne Crowe, of Comox, in 1:26.09 (men’s), who also won the event in 2012, and Angela Plomondon, of Courtenay, in 1:43.42 (women’s), who won the event in 2011. Top walkers in the half marathon were Marion Devita at 2:45.52 and Dale Robertson at 3:11.36, both from Texada. In the eight-kilometre event, winners were Greg Tait, of Powell River, and Dena Collings, also of Powell River. Also participating in the eight-kilometre event were Texada Islanders McLean Mylymok, age seven, who pedalled his wheelchair, while dad Spencer Mylymok ran and helped push the chair.
A total of 32 participants came from Powell River, 14 from Texada and 15 from Vancouver Island. Runners also attended from as far away as Germany and Brazil. The hilly island course is not for the faint of heart, said mega-marathoner Janet Green, of Courtenay, attending Run the Rock for the third time. She said it’s the toughest road marathon in Canada, worthy of major bragging rights.
Fifteen-year-old runner Taku Ball, of Powell River and a student at Brooks Secondary School, participated for the second year in a row. He said his father Stephen Ball inspired him to run. “I like to keep moving,” he said. “Running makes me feel healthy.”
Participants were supported by 74 volunteers and 37 sponsors, including Avid Fitness, Sunshine Coast Althletics Association, First Credit Union, Taws Cycle and Sports, Comox Valley Road Runners, Suncoast Cycles, Lafarge Canada, Powell River Regional District and Texada Arts, Culture and Tourism Society.
