Full results for each distance by category.
After a week or so of windy, or rainy weather, we were pleasantly surprised this morning to be greeted with an absolute pearler of a day: clear blue skies, and nothing more than a gentle breeze to rustle the leaves. Not even forgetting to bring the legs for the barbeque could mar the perfection!
It has been nearly thirty years since the Sri Chinmoy 10km running course was inaugurated on the bank of Lake Burley Griffin. Since then, bike paths have been added, signposts and lampposts erected, a particularly scenic stand of pines has unfortunately burned down, and more than one of the green metal signs that mark the course has mysteriously disappeared. Happily, signs can be replaced, and Canberra's most established 10km running course lives on.
Before the race began, I remarked that it is usually the younger participants in the 4km race who run the fastest times. And today was no exception: Keely Small in the Under 13 Girls' category led the field in a blistering 14:54. Next fastest was Mark Bateman who won the 17 and Over Male category in 15:12. Spencer Burns was first U13 boy in 15:58, William Zeitlhofer won Under 17 Males in 16:37, and Kylie Wilson won the Over 17 Female category in 18:30.
In the 10km race, Shane Farrant scored first place in a time of 33:30, which is the fastest time anyone has run on this course in at least the last three years. Joshua Torley's second place time of 35:33 would have been fast enough to win any of our Acton Ferry 10km races held in 2011 or 2012 (and would only have been beaten by Travis Haslam at our March race by nine seconds.)
Joshua's sister Nicola Torley won the U50 Female category in 42:25, one mnute fourteen seconds faster than her finish in the race held here in March.
Anna Konig won Female 50-59 in 53:30, and Geoff Hawke won the Male 50-50 in 40:20.
Michael Wilson won the Male 60-69 in 50:40, Lynne McDonald won the Female 60-69 in 53:38.
Caroline Campbell won the Female 70+ category in 58:55. In the Male 70+ category, Lachlan Lewis took the honours in a time of 1:11:10. After his customary speech praising the race organisers, he posed for a photo with his daughter and granddaughter, both of whom also competed in todays' events!
Thanks to all who took part in the 10km and 4km races. On days like this, running and race organising seem to bring out the best in everybody. And we got the barbeque legs just in time, too.
Full results are posted here>>
You can see the photo gallery here>>
The Sri Chinmoy Canberra Day 10 km & 4 km Fun-Runs for 2013 – celebrating the Centenary of Canberra – were held on Monday 11 March from Acton Ferry Terminal. Full results for both distances follow:
Sri Chinmoy Canberra Day 10 km run, 11 March 2013, full results>>
Sri Chinmoy Canberra Day 4 km run, 11 March 2013, full results>>
Canberra turned 100 years old today (well, actually tomorrow, but we celebrated the birthday today). For 30 of those years, the Sri Chinmoy 10km Race has been held from Acton Ferry Terminal, and has become a regular feature for the city’s running community, many of whom would still run along the beauteous Lake Burley Griffin even if there was no race. (They wouldn’t get pancakes, however.)
On this Centenary day, race organisers were not sure of what to expect. With so many events surrounding us, would the people of Canberra be preoccupied at the world’s longest bubbly bar or the balloon festival, or would they celebrate the day by converging on Acton Ferry Terminal?
It soon became clear that many were keen to take advantage of the excellent weather (one of Canberra’s great qualities over the past 100 years) and enjoy the 10km and 4km races. In fact, we had the largest field in our 30-year history!
It was a race that came together well, despite the hints of foreboding. There was a faint greyness in the sky, which – accompanied by weather reports – suggested that the sunshine wouldn’t last forever. Would we have enough breakfast for this record field? Would we run out or water? (Well, probably not… but cups were a different matter.)
Happily, the Sun continued to shine. If anything, it provided an extra challenge for the runners. As they headed back along the cycle path – hopefully in time to enjoy the procession of veteran cars, as they drove to the rally at the nearby National Museum of Australia – the day was becoming convincingly hot.
Cups? Relax, there were plenty. Pancakes? We were convinced that our supplies wouldn’t last, but as the last runners enjoyed the breakfast, we were left with a single pancake.
Congratulations to all who participated today, and congratulations too, to Canberra for your first Century!