Our eighth annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's CIBC Run for the Cure got under way last Sunday morning at about 9:15 am at Cambrian College's main Campus with opening ceremonies including touching words from Dominique Viau from the Circle of Strength and a cancer survivor. And then, after a quick warm up led by Amanda Kosmerly, all participants were led to the start line and the commencement of the run.

And what a run it was. Our entrants ages spanned from 2 to 92. The 2 year old Brendon Matusch was in a baby jogger and, with the help of his dad Steve (a Sudbury Rocks!! member), smoked the course in just north of 20 minutes. Our oldest participant was in a wheel chair and her time was just a little slower. But she finished strong. We had very fast runners. We had very slow walkers. We had 1163 determined people - all walking and running for a cause very dear to their hearts. We also had a whole pack of dogs out and fortunately one of our sponsors provided doggy treats at the water station. Next year we'll encourage those canines to put their own team in and solicit donations in their neighbourhoods. Maybe Team "RUFF and READY" - to combat breast cancer.

Although this run is all about participaction and raising funds we still like to recognize the gifted few runners out there trying their best to be as fast as they can.

This year our top male runner was Jack Kosmerly (17:17.87). Johnny Dellavedova was 2nd (17:45.71) and Mike Coughlin was 3rd (18:31.27). Our top female was Amanda Kosmerly and she ran her first ever sub 20 5k (19:51.52). Natalie Moreau was 2nd (21:21.55) and Sudbury Rocks!! runner Tawnecia Sauve was third in her fastest time to date in a 5k (22:07.58). Our top youths were Spencer Hiischfeld (21:40.71), Hayden Kosmerly (21:59.27) and Andrew Wahamea (22:41.68). You may have noticed (3) Kosmerlys' in the medals. They are a very active and competitive family - and they all enjoy the sport so good on them!

I'm Team Coordinator for the Event so I'm always happy when we have a great Team turn out. And every year our number of Teams increases as well as the participants on Teams. This year we ended up with 59 Teams and over 800 individuals making up those Teams. I thank all of you very much for your dedication and support - especially you Team Captains. I know it's a lot of work but the rewards are great when it all comes together on Run Day.

Teams are set up in the following categories: 1 - Friends and Family, 2 - Corporate, 3 - Schools and 4 - Women's. There are awards every year for those teams who raise the most money in donations. This year's winners are respectively : MACH5 (Myra Gerow and Pam Hull Captains), GO WITH THE FLO(Cambrian Ford with Florence Girard Captain), NORTHEASTERN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ( Dave Farrow and Steve Fessenden Captains) and W.O.M.B. ( Sheila Yaw-MacLean and Maureen Moustgaard Captains). Good going Teams!

It's been quite a ride from the beginning this year organizing the Run way back in April to its completion on Sunday. Looking at the donation amounts and all the happy faces, I do believe we've made the event a professional and well run affair. And from the participant's perspective, it probably looked like it went off like a well oiled machine. Here's a bit of the behind the scenes observation from a Run Insider:

Run for the Cure an Overwhelming Success

by Mike Coughlin

The annual Run for the Cure took place this past Sunday, drawing more than 1100 runners and walkers. I was there and I have to say - it was nuts!! Lots of great energy and over $174,000 raised for Breast Cancer Research. Looking at the race bibs written up with the family members or friends who have suffered from breast cancer made me realize just how common it is in our community as well as how much it means to all of us to look after each other.

In the run itself, it was great to see lots of familiar faces with big smiles and more than a few great runs. The YTri Kosmerly family stole the show by taking first place in the Men's, Women's and youth competition with Jack coming first overall in 17:17 and Amanda breaking the elusive 20 minute barrier for the first time in recent years with a hard earned 19:51. If they weren't so nice, you might want to trip them! Other fine runs included Discomfort Zone athletes Mike Coughlin (18:31 and 3rd overall), Steve Matusch (20:03 with his son Brendon in a stroller!) and Patti Socransky (22:50).

Steve Matusch writes:

Running with Brendon, was honestly the most fun I've had racing all
year. Brendon was alternately laughing yelling "We're racing!" over and
over for the first half km. I actually broke out laughing myself a few
times. I'm not sure that we made any friends in the hard-running 22-25
minute crowd that we were passing, but it was worth it.

Steve

Discomfort Zone athlete Steve Fessenden chose to run with members of his Grade 1 class, with whom he helped come first in the School Category of the fundraising competition with over $4000 raised!!

Congratulations to everyone who took part, and we will see you there again next year!

Results: http://www.sudburyrocks.ca/Results/2005/10-02-2005%20Run%20for%20Cureresults.htm

October 1, 2005 Run for the Toad

Two Sudbury Rocks (Ron Poirier and Malcolm Steven) checked out this fantastic 2 loop 25 km trail run and both said it's a MUST DO!. Check their results here.

October 2, 2005 PEC Marathon

Our Cobourg Rocks!! Correspondents, Ken and Lynn Stubbings, took on the PEC Marathon and 1/2 Marathon for the second year in a row. Ken's defense of his last year's 3rd place overall finish fell a little short this time out but he did manage 7th overall and 2nd in his age group with an awesome time of 2:57:37. Lynn ran mildly undertrained but still turned a good 2:41:24 Click here for results.

Ken writes:

Hello everyone,

The Prince Edward County Marathon and Half Marathon held on October 2 had some beautiful August weather. It was a bright sunny day, no wind, and by noon the temperature was in the high 20s. There were 338 entries in the full and 592 entries in the half. For Lynn and me, the event actually started the Friday night before the run. We picked up about 45 kits for Peterborough/Cobourg/Port Hope area runners.

We both had good runs. Lynn ran the half in 2:41:24 with a placing of 434. Lynn has proven that you can run a ½ marathon on a two day per week running program. Her training program for the last couple of months has been interrupted with possible kidney stones. She was able to run a long run and one or two weekday runs. Her goal time is 2:30. So considering the lack of training, I think she did excellent in losing only 11 minutes. I ran the full in 2:57:37 with a placing of 7th. The half marathon starts at the 21.1km mark so some marathoners get a good adrenalin rush from the waiting half runners. By the 13km mark, I saw the sweat dripping off the peak of my hat so I knew it was going to be a warm day. At the 37km mark my legs said "Let's take a walk break. Just a little one. It will not matter." My brain thought about it, but then said "No there are only 5 more kilometers to go. You can picture that. Just take another gel and keep moving." So there was no walk break. My training objective was 2:55, with an ultimate objective of sub 3hours. I am pleased with my results.

Well, we will see you Rockers in November.

Ken

October 1, 2005 Big South Fork 17.5 Miler Tennessee USA

By Karen Beaulieu (our US Rocks!! Correspondent)

Big Southfork was run last Sat. In case you guys don't know this is a 17.5 mile trail race. The trail itself is not too technical but it still takes a lot out of you, just ask Monique. The day was beautiful and sunny and in the low 60's. I thought it would be cooler (hoping) and was looking forward to a fairly cool run but it did not stay that way. My strategy for the race would be to take it easy as I wanted to do a 30 miler this weekend in Chattanooga.
I was saved from myself as Ben had decided not to go to Chattanooga, instead he chose to run the Xterra 15k here so that is what I am doing next.
The race starts and I decide to run with Betty as i know she will keep me on track and not let me do anything stupid. Everything is fine until the 4 mile mark. I developed this sharp pain on the outside of my left knee. I continued to run and hoped it would go away but of course it only got worse. At about 6miles i told Betty to go without me as it was very painful and i had to slow down considerably. I also pulled over to let a few others by as most of the trail is single track and i was moving slow. My leg got progressively worse and i got slower. Of course my watch was not set so i had no idea how slow i was and there are no mile markers. It felt like i was running in one place and I'm sure I could have run slower backwards. The pain made me queasy at times but walking was not an option as it would have taken forever to walk 10 miles out. In the last 3 miles of the race I passed all of the guys that I pulled over for earlier. I was amazed at that as I was running turtle pace. This is proof that the tortoise is faster than the hare. The whole time I am out in that darn bush I am saying what would Vince do ? he would turn it over...so I did . Thanks for that expression as I play that game a lot. The whole time I'm running this darn race I am worrying about what I am doing to my leg and if it is going to keep me from N.Y.
Monique I did not even walk up that darn grass hill at the last mile. You would have been proud... I hate that finish. anyway I came through the finish and forgot to look at the clock. I got ice for my leg , a drink and then went to feel sorry for myself in my car as I had glanced at my watch and saw 11:28 and that meant I had been really slow which sucked. The next day I realized that the race started at 8:30 not 8:00 so my time went from what I thought was 3:20 to an actual time of 2:50:19 (4th in her age group)which is great considering how I had to slow my pace and am seeing a sports therapist for an IT band injury. I had a treatment with 2 kinds of some electrical therapy and am given exercises to do . In 3 weeks I go back to see if the areas I'm to work are stronger. Weak calves and gluteus maximus. I am still going to try the Xterra on Sat. and if things are not going ok then I will pull out. Hopefully I will have fun stuff to report back to you. Wish me luck Karen