The River Runs . . .
After some dubious blustery Spring weather leading up to the event, race day surprisingly brought the welcome contrast of a calm, dry morning at Riverside Park on the banks of the Maribyrnong River.
As we set up the venue we were greeted by the usual screech and squawk of seemingly thousands of birds who have made their home in the large old palm trees in the park, complaining about our intrusion into their normally unoccupied domain at such an early time of day.
The venue is a very special, almost secret location by the river, just down the Boulevard from the iconic Poynton’s Nursery and it is always a surprise that this is the smallest of our runs.
And so to the race . . . with three distances on offer around the mainly flat 4km river loop – 12km, 8km and 4km . . . some interesting stories began to unfold.
The male 4km was a close tussle between Brent Radoslovia (15:40) and one of our regular runners, Chris Grafen (15:45), followed by Tommy Grimaldi (16:08). It is interesting to note that Chris and Tommy ran from the 40-49yr category, a consistent pattern that was to unfold throughout the morning.
Brent Radoslovia, 4km winner Casey Shannon, Kate Hudson and Monique Protopopov
In the female 4km, however, this pattern was temporarily checked with the first three finishers all coming from the open age category, with another close race for first place: Casey Shannon 17:14, Kate Hudson 17:15 and Monique Protopopov 17:45, finishing 7th, 8th and 10th overall. Great effort ladies!
The 8km race brought its own very special surprise in the victory of 15-year-old Eric Nelson in 31:50. Eric positioned himself well at the start line and made his intentions very clear, leading for the entire race. Charlie Smith (from Geelong, celebrating his birthday and running from the 50-59 category!) came second in 32:03 followed by Jordan Kamel in 32:16.
15-year-old future star Eric Nelson
In the female 8km Megan Gillette finished a convincing winner in 36:52, followed by Jillian Kelders, another strong masters category runner in 37:37 and Hannah Hacile in 39:38.
The 12km race winner Nathan Crowley, led the entire race, including 4km and 8km runners, and finished very strongly in a time of 45:25. Second was Sam Stewart (46:53) and third Tim Dornom (48:35). Both Nathan and Sam run from the 40-40yr category.
In the female 12km, Kirsten Long took the honours in 54:37, Lorraine Bradbury was second in 59:00 (running from the 50-59yr category!) and Rachel Woodhatch was third in 1:04:38.
Some of our cheerful drink station volunteers
We look forward to catching up with you all at our end-of-year Christmas run at the new Cherry Lake venue in Altona on Sunday 8 December. In the meantime, stay fit and happy . . . and good running!
The Maribyrnong is known as Melbourne’s ‘second’ river, flowing from its source in the Macedon Ranges, through Melbourne’s outer and inner suburbs before reaching the Yarra estuary at Yarraville, where it empties into Port Phillip Bay. For those who know it well, however, the Maribyrnong is every bit as good a waterway as its more well-known counterpart.
And so the river formed a calm, shimmering backdrop to the 4km, 8km and 12km runs this early Sunday morning at Riverside Park on The Boulevard in Moonee Ponds, just down the road from the landmark Poynton’s Nursery.
Leaving home at 3.50am on a reasonably clear and mild early morning from the inner eastern side of Melbourne to set up the run, we drove through several surprisingly wet patches of road before reaching the venue. And as we laid out the course, a very fine misty drizzle gave us some cause for anticipation and concern. However, all these fears were set aside by 6.30am as the day fully dawned and the weather began to look quite promising.
As we set up the venue we managed to give the resident bird life an early morning wake-up call, sending many of them flying from the foliage of the massive palm trees and watching curiously as we went about our tasks.
Riverside Park is reasonably small as far as parks go, but the perfect location for our run, providing a friendly, intimate setting for the start and finish of the race. The course is an anti-clockwise 4-kilometre loop around the river with two bridge crossings on the well-used recreational trails, the locals kindly accommodating a sudden influx of eager runners to their usually quiet morning jog or walk.
The race got under way just after 8.00am with 101 starters in the 4km, 67 in the 8km and 76 in the 12km, a total of 244 participants. The early pace was set not by one of the 4km runners, but by George Skoufis, the eventual winner of the 12km run.
There were some surprisingly good results from the more mature participants, with notable mentions being Jenny Alexander Aline Palloure and Ingrid Tsiligiannis in the womens 12km race; Ernie Stewart coming second overall in the mens 12km from the 60-69 years category; Carina Ford and Bronwyn Morris in the womens 8km run; and Brett Hann and Christine Woolley in the 4km run.
Many runners took advantage of the fine morning and enjoyed the post-run pancakes and fruit while waiting for friends and family to finish. Perhaps it was the stillness of the air, or the silence of the river flowing quietly by, but there seemed to be a palpable peace and camaraderie being shared around.
>>Full results 4km
>>Full results 8km
>>Full results 12km
>>Photo gallery
A record field at today's Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Run. Results are listed below. Images and the race report are now available.
Our next event is the Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore Run on Sunday 11 December along the picturesque Williamstown Beach. 10 & 5km distances on offer. Enter online.
Earlybird online registration for our premier event the Sri Chinmoy Running & Fitness Festival on Sunday 27 May 2012, is now avaliable. Choose from the Marathon, half marathon, 10km and 4km distances on offer.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our next races.
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
The fullness of life lies in dreaming and manifesting the impossible dreams.
Sri Chinmoy
A record field of just under 400 toed the line, under warm conditions at today's Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Run. The Maribyrnong although regarded as Melbourne's second river to the Yarra, provided the perfect backdrop for today's event. Results and images from the day are now available.
The feature event of the day was the 3 lap, 12km race which was convincingly won by Craig Ware in brisk 44.36, almost 3 minutes clear of the whole field. The minor placing were awarded to Shane Drapen 47.26 and Marcus Daniell in 49.06.
In the women's race, Louise Marsden blitzed the field with a superfast 53.47 to take the women's title and also hold down 9th place in the overall standings. Kate Gollan finished second in 58.42 trailed home by Ingrid Tsiligiannis in third in 58.45. Ingrid's fast time also gave her line honours in the women's 50-59 age category.
Congratulations also to David Reide 60-69 who completed the 12km in 53.07 to finish 7th overall.
First across the line in the 8km race was Taylor Geoffrey in 31.59, who was closely followed by Ben Martin in 32.07, with Robert Dalton finishing third in 33.27. Taylor also took out first place in the men's 50-59 age category, finishing ahead of many half his own age.
The women's race was won by Carolyn Huell in 34.35 which was fast enough to give her 6th place overall. Jillian Kelders finished second in 36.59, followed by Amy Wynne in 39.40.
Hidden within the field was a further standout performance by Bill Page who at 81 years youn completed the 8km in a very rapid 48.03, within the front half of the field. Well done Bill!
The 4km event was a just a 1 lap dash around the Maribyrnong River. This event was won by Brent Radoslovic in 15.11 followed by Chris Grafen (40-49) in 15.41 and Michael Phillips (50-59) a few seconds further back in 15.49.
In the women's race Liz Gallagher, took it right up to the leading men, finishing 5th overall in 16.12. The remaining podium places were filled by Sharon Rankin 18.23 and Christine Woolley 18.38.
Other notable age category performances go to Douglas Johnston (60-69) who completed the 4km in a very timely 17.02 for a top 10 finish. Congratulations also to Vern Gerlach at 86 who skipped around the course in 38.58.
Our next event is the Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore Run on Sunday 11 December along the picturesque Williamstown Beach. 10 & 5km distances on offer. Enter online.
Earlybird online registration for our premier event the Sri Chinmoy Running & Fitness Festival on Sunday 27 May 2012, is now avaliable. Choose from the Marathon, half marathon, 10km and 4km distances on offer.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our next races.
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
The fullness of life lies in dreaming and manifesting the impossible dreams.
Sri Chinmoy
Congratulation to everyone who ran, jogged and walked at the Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Run on Sunday. Despite the forecasts of wintery weather, conditions were still and cool; perfect for fast times. Results and images from the day are now available.
The main event of the day was the 12km run which was won by Solomon Melekote in a time of 45:14 followed by Adsam Horsburgh in 46:21 and Fergus Koochew in 47:05. In fact Solomon was running so well that he overtook the whole 8km field on his 2nd lap of the course.
Line honours in the women's event was taken out by Deanne Orton in 53:06, with Sally Kuhlman and Kirsten Horsburgh filling the other podium positions in 55:06 and 58:46.
We would like to give special mention to the evergreen Bill Page, who finished first in the 80+ age category, in a speedy time of 1:08:33; and at the other end of the spectrum to Michael Swinnerton, who took out the 15-17 age category, in 50:11, to finish 6th overall.
The 2 lap 8km course was won by Sasha Durakovic in 30.20 with Stuart Elliot 31:09 and David Clark 32:33 filling out the minor places. In the women's event Martanne Vass crossed the line first in 37:14 followed Esther Ton in 42:08, and Carolyn O'Dea in 42:18.
The standout performance amongst the age group runners would have to be Connor Hoekstra who finished first in the under 15 age category in a super fast 36:20 placing him 12th overall.
The 4km event boasted the largest field with a large contingent of runners from JBS Swift who took on the 1 lap challenge.
The overall winner was Mark Decampo in 13:15 with Nick Machale 14:49 and Brent Radoslovic 15:16 filling the other podium places. The women's 4km race was won by Jenny Denouden in 19:48, trailed by Sharron Clark 20:46 and Lauren Denouden in 21:08.
Again the standout went to an up and coming runner, Anthony Crews, who aged 10, completed the 4km course in a speedy 16:58 to finish 9th overall!
Our next event is the Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore Run on Sunday December 12 at Williamstown Beach. Choose either the 5km or 10km distance and take a dip in the bay to cool down afterwards. Enter online.
We look forward to seeing you all at one of our upcoming events in 2011.
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team.
Congratulations to all who ran on Sunday at the Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Run. Images from the day and the race report are now available and results are listed below.
Our next event is the Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore Run at Williamstown Beach on Sunday 12 December. Enter Online.
We look forward to seeing you there or at any of our 2011 events.
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Veeraja
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Race Report
Sunday 19 October 2008, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Run on Sunday 19 October. A full list of results and photos from the day are now available online.
The event attracted a 200+ strong field which is the largest we have had on the Maribyrnong River to this date. We were very pleased to welcome many new faces to our events and we look forward to putting on more events in Melbourne's West.
Congratulations to Fransceco who sizzled around the loop river loop in 12.54 finishing a country mile ahead of his nearest rivals and to Marc Robotham who took line honours in the 12km 3 lap event in a very commendable 46.12. Also well done to all those who toed the line after completing the Melbourne Marathon or Half Marathon the previous weekend.
If you would like to provide us with feedback from the day you can email us at melbourne@srichinmoyraces.org.
Our next event is the Sri Chinmoy Geelong Foreshore Run on Sunday November 9 offering 10km and 5km distances. We look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes and happy training.
The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
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Sri Chinmoy Maribyrnong River Run 12km, 8km & 4km
