By Paul Gains (@PaulEGains)
TORONTO. February 13th 2015. Relief from winter’s most challenging conditions may seem a long way off but there is comfort in knowing that the 2015 Canada Running Series launches next month.
The eight race series kicks off with the Modo Spring Run Off 8k (March 22nd) in Vancouver’s scenic Stanley Park and concludes October 18th with the flagship event – the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM).
In addition to being named the 2015 Canadian Marathon Championship the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon was awarded the prestigious IAAF Gold Label recently, making it one of only four marathons in the Americas to earn that distinction. Considering the other three are Boston, New York and Chicago – all part of the World Marathon Majors – it is indeed a wonderful recognition of years of hard work.
The full series calendar includes Modo Spring Run Off 8k (March 22, Vancouver), Harry’s Spring Run Off 8k and 5k to Fight Prostate Cancer (April 4, Toronto High Park), Toronto Yonge Street 10k (April 19), Banque Scotia de 21k & 5k de Montreal (April 26), Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon and 5k (June 28), Oasis ZooRun 10k (Toronto September 12), Vancouver Eastside 10k (September 19) and Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (October 18).
Thirty years ago Race Director Alan Brookes set out to create Canadian races where participants of all levels can race on a safe, accurately measured course and receive an accurate finishing time. It would seem it’s a case of ‘mission accomplished.’ The CRS team has grown to include15 full time staff.
Striving to stay up with changing times they continually seek fresh ideas to give participants the best race experience possible.
For several years the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon – which has seen its participation grow by 36% over the past five years – has been a member of the Chicago Marathon Best Practices Group. Members travel to each others‘ races to work and to experience other leading race organization. Indeed, CRS staff managed the water stations at the 2012 US Olympic trials in Houston and will be handling the technical end of the upcoming 2015 Pan Am Games marathon and race walks.
The CRS prides itself on its community building events and at the core is a massive charitable component. Last year 58,009 entrants participated in the series raising $5,843,468 for charities bringing the total amount of money raised over the past five years to a staggering $28,306,914.
Alongside the fitness runners, charity fundraisers and novice runners some of Canada’s best distance runners line up at CRS events competing for prize money. In addition, points are awarded based according to position in their best three CRS races. In addition, the races are given weight depending upon the quality of the fields. The top Canadian finisher in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon for instance earns 60 points while he/she would earn 30 points for victory in the Harry’s Spring Run Off 8k, the Oasis Zoo Run and the Scotiabank Toronto Half Marathon.
Defending Champion Rachel Hannah at the Toronto Yonge Street 10K
The defending CRS overall champions are Eric Gillis who resides in Guelph, Ontario and Toronto’s Rachel Hannah.
A year ago victories in the Toronto Yonge Street 10k, Oasis Zoo Run 10k and Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal were enough to secure the title for Gillis. He was also the leading Canadian finisher at the STWM when he finished 9th in a new personal best of 2:11:21.
Hannah, meanwhile, had a spectacular year emerging victorious in the Toronto Yonge St 10k, Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal as well as the Oasis 10k. She also won the Canadian Cross Country Championship. Like many elites the 28 year old credits the series for developing her career.
“The Canada Running Series is very important for offering athletes of all levels opportunities to race in world-class events on home soil,” says Hannah. “We are privileged to have this series in Canada.
“The financial support the CRS offers to runners in this country is outstanding for the sport. Alan and his team make it more possible for an athlete’s life to be fiscally sustainable and, for that, I know we’re all thankful.”
Following their outstanding season Gillis and Hannah received $2,500 prizes in addition to any appearance money and prize money offered at the individual races. This year the CRS has raised the amount of prize money. The 2015 winners will receive $5000.
Eric Gillis runs to victory at the Toronto Yonge Street 10K
Gillis is set to run a spring marathon and will therefore is unsure of where he will run his first CRS event.
“The CRS provides excellent racing opportunities in Canada to both developing, and pro distance runners,” Gillis declares. “I’m a beneficiary of this and credit the Series with helping me reach the athletic level I’m presently at.
“The doubling of overall champion’s prize money is great news, it’ll only further incentivize athletes to race in Canada and increase the interest, and presumably the depth of this great Series.
“The thing I like about CRS races is the atmosphere surrounding the races. Each event has a little different flavour, and I like the mix of competition and participation, something for everyone.”
The series is likely to see several leading Canadian internationals mark their return following injuries. Dylan Wykes and Reid Coolsaet who along with Gillis represented Canada in the London 2012 Olympic marathon, are back in the fray while Dayna Pidhoresky the 2011 CRS overall champion is training again. Then there is Natasha Wodak whose 2014 season was ended abruptly when she succumbed to plantar fasciitis. Now training hard again she appears wanting to make up for lost time.
Rachel Cliff and Natasha Wodak at the Modo Spring-Run Off 8K
“I’m so excited to be back racing this year,” she says. “I’ve got lots of races planned, so I’m really hoping I can stay healthy this year. I am being very careful and proceeding cautiously.”
Her winter schedule includes the Modo Spring Run Off 8k as well as the world cross country championships in China – she and Hannah will be teammates representing Canada – before she takes to both the road and track in preparation for a possible Pan Am Games berth.
“A fall marathon is in the plan as well,” she adds. “My major goal for the year though is just to stay healthy. The CRS races are always competitive, which creates opportunities to run fast. And running fast is what it’s all about.”
A year ago Kelly Wiebe (24:04) and Wodak (26:39) emerged victorious in the Modo Spring Run off 8k event and are plotting to defend these titles. Neither will have an easy time.
Wodak faces her rival Rachel Cliff who finished 2nd in last year’s Modo 8k. Meanwhile Cliff’s fiancee, Chris Winter the defending Canadian Cross Country champion, will tackle Wiebe. The pair were teammates when Canada competed at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydoszcz, Poland and will be fighting for local bragging rights.
Up until February 17th runners can purchase a ‘Combo Pack’ which offers discounts when they sign up for multiple CRS events at the same time. www.RunCRS.ca
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