North Bay's 5th annual Run 4 Patrick was held on Sunday June 13, 2010.This year athletes participated in 5 available events - the 2k, 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon and 1/2 marathon wheelchair. New this time out was a fitness expo on Saturday, The event always attracts runners as the course are the flattest available;able in the north. The cause is worth running for too (from the website) This event is in memory of Patrick Fortin who was diagnosed HIV positive at age 7 due to tainted blood. The Patrick4Life organization is raising awareness of HIV/AIDS in his name through various educational activities. This healthy event provides a positive way for our organization to connect with the community and help raise awareness.

Numerous runners took part from the Sudbury area as usual and they fared very well. Check out the many firsts in age group finishers. Rocks!! member Stephanie Koett went one better winning the overall female category in the 1/2 marathon in a time of 1:36:44.3. Derek Lalonde placed 3rd overall and first in his age group in the 10k in a time of 39:08.5 and Paul Jeffery also placed 3rd overall and first in his age group in the half marathon in a time of 1:25:28.4.

Results           Photos

 

Congratulations All!

 

We have returned from our quest to the Yukon to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and it was a very memorable trip. Absolutely 100% exciting. What a wonderful scenic place to see; and the people are extremely welcoming. Lynn and I had the pleasure of celebrating our trip with Lise and Vince. The trip was an eye-opener for the life of the folks during the gold rush period.

Our adventure started in Whitehorse where we toured the city and visited a dog sled compound. We took a bus/train ride to Skagway Alaska along the White Pass Yukon Route Rail Trail. In Skagway we did a bit of trail running. From Whitehorse we then rented a car to drive to Mayo and Keno. Keno, a historic mining community, has a signpost on the top of a mountain and the world's best pizza.

We participated in the Mayo Midnight Marathon and Half Marathon. The event is much the same size as Massey Marathon. Massey has been my #1 event for hospitality, prizes and after race food. I must say that Mayo is giving Massey a run for hospitality and after race food. The Mayo champagne breakfast is something else. There was about 50 feet of tables lined with food...cereal, eggs, meats, assorted baked breads, pies, fruit, coffee, juices. The majority of prizes was an individual recognition from the crowd for the runner's accomplishment.
The run course scenery is similar to Massey. The course is a paved rural road in a treed area. The elevation difference is much more rolling than Massy. The 5k, 10k, 1/2, and full marathon runs start at different times with the objective of the majority of runners ending around midnight. That was very different for the four of us. We were not used to running with the extra load of the day's food in our stomachs. Lynn, Lise, and Vince were able to boast that they ran two days in a row (the day of and the day after the start of the marathon). I was unable to accomplish this. The organizers had Bear Patrol on watch for our safety. The only constructive comment I have is the water stations are every 5km; I prefer every 3km. Results Here                      Photos Here

After the run, we drove up the Dempster Highway to the Tombstone Mountains. In Dawson, we gambled at Diamond Tooth Gertie's and had a Sour Toe Cocktail at the Downtown Motel. (And ran the roads as well). From Dawson we drove the Top of the World Highway to stop at Chicken, Alaska. Downtown Chicken has all the essentials. Outhouses, a saloon, a nicknack store, and a restaurant with pies like you have never tasted before. We continued to Beaver Creek for a "Good-ole hoe-down" amongst what seemed to be an endless supply of buses loaded with touring seniors. At Haine's Junction, we took the most amazing plane ride over the mountains and glaciers. This was the high-light of the trip. The drive back to Whitehorse was somewhat of a roller coaster ride. You have never experienced frost heave until you drive in the Yukon. I think the front wheels came close to leaving the road a couple times as we bounced along the way. The last day in Whitehorse was a wind-down day. I got up at 4:15 am for a run before leaving for the airport. It was special for me running in daylight at that wee hour. Whitehorse has an eagle nest near the road. The eagles were there tending to their young. I said my good-bye and headed back to the hotel.

Upon landing in Toronto, we saw all the aircraft of the World Leaders attending the G8 and G20.

I highly recommend this trip. You get a true appreciation of life and consideration for the rat-race of the other world we live in. Thanks to Lise and Vince for participating in our adventure. Oh ya....and to Lynn for the last 25+ years.

Ken Stubbings

On Sunday June 27th, the annual Sudbury Fitness Challenge/Sudbury Canoe Club Canoe Marathon took place on the shores of Ramsey Lake. Participants came from as far as Pickering, Parry Sound, Toronto and Naughton. Each year this race becomes more like a small boat race rather than a canoe race with olympic style sprint kayaks, ultra light/ultra long racing canoes and even the latest paddling craze outrigger canoes. We still have a soft spot however for the coleman canoe that still makes the occasional appearance (you got to love a boat that has cup holders and built in cooler).
Rocks!!! members and avid runners were out in full force including Sara McIlraith, Kate Richards, Neil Phipps, Kerry Abols, Marc Nellis, John Larmer and Emily Marcolini.
See the finishing times in the results section.
Go to the upcoming events section for the next event in the Sudbury Fitness Challenge series the Ian McLoy Island Swim.

Rob Marcolini
Sudbury Canoe Club

Hello everyone it's been a number of months since our Zone has been up and running. We have had some very good success and results and continue to gain interest from other provinces and internationally. On a domestic level a number of our clients have benefited well from our testing, consultation and work. Allastair Moona won this years Ofsaa 400m and set a record, he as well as team mate Tremaine Harris have been under our guidance and keep an eye out of young Andre Ford only 14 years old and has run 10.74. and 21.89. Patrick Dufresne of North Bay placed 8th at Ofsaa in triple jump and with the up and down year he has had (mono) even he was surprised he could make it to ofssa. In total we have seen in the last six months over 9 Personal Bests between 6 clients that have come through our program. We are also working with Nigerian Sprinter Peter Emelieze whom has a personal best of 10.17 and due to some technical issues came to us as he slipped down to 10.54 last year. Peter is gearing up for his country's Commonwealth Games team later on in the fall. We are also expanding in the fall with a second location which will introduce sports regenerative therapy, and sports nutrition . I look forward to our continued success. Here is an excerpt from a letter Athletics Ontario received from Allastair Moona's coach Mr. Steve Howell:


"I recommend anyone who is serious to utilize the knowledge of David Case and his staff in Sudbury, he was not only able to identify strengths and weaknesses with my athletes, but also make recommendations. Through various tests we were able to identify how my athletes can improve.We are now getting ready to have David work with them over the next few weeks to prepare for the Canadian Junior Championships /World Junior Trials and Legion Nationals...............Steve Howell coach G-Force Athletics Club" l (letter send to Athletics Ontario June 8th 2010)

I will keep everyone posted on our new facility as we are just in the painting, drywall and building phase of the extended/new facility.

For more information on the Northern Ontario Speed and Strength Zone contact David Case at: dharmasportsgroup@consultant.com