BEHIND THE MASK
  
At our 2010 centennial race, everyone was intrigued to see a relay team of Thunder Bay Fire Fighters burdened in a respirator and full turn-out gear running the race as a special demonstration event.  It was quite something to see from the outside.... but what was it like on the inside?

 
Photo by Jim Cameron
 
Trial runs helped establish how to position the equipment for running and stop the helmut from bouncing around.  However, being burdened by the weight of the equipment, and constrained by clothing that didn't breath, escalated the performance required of these firefighters to an entirely different level. 

For firefighter Steve Shonosky, it was alot like being in a sauna with a snowsuit.  When the equipment went on, initially it was fine, but, in no time at all, the heat and humidity just soared.  The toughest part for Steve was keeping to a steady, conservative pace without being swept up by the speedsters around him.  He came very close to exhausting his limited air supply.

  
GEAR EXCHANGE: Rob Towell & David Sereda
Photo by Paul Penna

And how did the relay challenge compare to real-life emergency response...?  The consensus seems to be that emergency response is just as taxing as running a mile leg in the Ten Miler, but with some significant distinctions.  As Steve points out, in the relay he could control his speed, whereas in an emergency, a responder essentially does what has to be done.  Emergencies are a tough cardio workout, but they also demand alot of strength and the ability to work in awkward spaces.


Photo by Paul Penna

All in all the turn-out team thought the Ten Mile Relay was a great experience and appreciated the fantastic crowd support.  It was great entertainment, and now we have the inside story.
  

ADVENTURE RUNS FOR THE FUTURE
  
The Lake Superior Terry Fox Courage Trail would parallel the Terry Fox Courage Highway from Nipigon to Thunder Bay.  Following the bed of the old CN Kinghorn Railway, it would celebrate the legacy of Terry Fox and the shores of Lake Superior that witnessed the final stretch of his marathon of hope.  A marquee annual funding event for the Terry Fox Foundation would feature three marathons over the trail on three successive days [with the further prospect of adventure runs, triathalons, cycling and skiing events,...].

  
The Pass Lake trestle of the Kinghorn Railway: span 2280 feet, height130 feet. 

It's an ambitious vision over 13 bridges and 111 kilometres that's currently under consideration by the municipalities of Nipigon, Red Rock, Dorion, Shuniah and Thunder Bay.  The trail would encourage healthy living through active lifestyles, events and activities, while connecting with the natural environment along the north shore of Lake Superior.  To learn more, check out the feasibility study at http://www.tctrail.ca/pdf/Kinghorn%20Open%20House.pdf.
  

RUNNERS FOR ORPHANS

Sandy Guthrie has supported charities for Kenyan orphans for a number of years, but when two Kenyan runners contended in the 2010 Ten Mile Road Race, she saw a chance to make a difference in a more personal way.  Sandy and husband, John were delighted to board Gilbert Kiptoo and Philip Kipchumba during their stays in Thunder Bay, and help the running community connect with our Kenyan visitors. 



Sandy has been the conduit for surplus race shirts [including Ten Mile tech shirts] and over 300 pairs of used runners that have found appreciative new owners in Kenya [below].



Following this year's Ten Miler, Sandy will depart for a nine week visit to Kenya with Karen Dahl.  They’ll be volunteering for the charity organization CES [Community Education Services], with husbands, John and Vaughn joining them for a shorter stay.  The plan includes teaching at 17 high schools that have CES-sponsored children, and reaching about 2000 students in the process. Karen's focus will be delivering the teaching module entitled 'healthy minds, healthy bodies", while Sandy's lead project will be organizing the first ever Canada Day 5K Race.  Weekends, they plan to visit Gilbert and Philip at their homes in Ziwa and Eldoret and witness first-hand their work with the orphans in their villages.  Amazingly, these kids can be schooled, fed and supplied with books and school uniforms, all for $200 a year. 

A number of fund-raising initiatives associated with the Fresh Air Experience Ten Mile Training Group are underway to support Philip and Gilbert's orphans [below]. 



If you’d like to know more about Sandy, John, Karen and Vaughn's Kenyan adventure, you can talk with Sandy at Fresh Air Experience, e-mail her at impser@shaw.ca or follow their progress at www.travelpod.co [traveller:sandyg55].
  

COMPETITIVE PULSE

In the weeks leading up to this years race, we'd like to provide some insights into how our 2010 award winners are progressing with their training, and whether we can expect them to contend again for 2011.

LESLIE SEMLER
Hermantown, Minnesota
First Overall 2010

Leslie was just starting to work through an early-season injury in 2010 when she broke out to win the Ten Miler in a time of 62:28.  Work commitments curbed her competitive schedule for the remainder of the year, although she was pleased with her performance in the Wild Duluth 50K, running strongly, staying focused and pushing through the rough patches. 
She balances her running with elements of biking, strength and flexibility, most recently adding yoga and pilates.  She’s been over a year without injury, and her fitness is good, but she still feels there’s room for improvement on her speed.
Leslie will focus on the longer races this year. Her goals are to PR at Grandma's Marathon, complete her first 50-miler, and participate in a Ragnar Relay. 
Leslie will defend her title on May 23rd and looks forward to see what the day will bring.



JARROW WAHMAN
Duluth, Minnesota
First Male 45-49, 2010

Jarrow is an enduring contender and four time winner of the Ten Mile Road Race [1989, 1993, 1996 and 2001]. His focus for 2010 was on helping his Northwoods Running Club to a third place masters finish in the USA Track & Field Minnesota Team Circuit, and on winning the Minnesota Distance Association Grand Prix overall title (which he also accomplished in 1990 and 2000). A heavy schedule resulted in persistent achilles tendonitis that remains a concern today.

Jarrow has been working to double his running mileage from a 50km/week winter base. He sets his sights on a new age category when he turns 50 on July 6; including the Ten Miler 50-54 age class record currently held by Bill Kreznoski.  The Twin Cities Marathon will host the US masters championships for 2011, and he’s targeted a finish in the low to mid 2:40’s to place in the money for the 50-54 age group [2:51 in 2010 GrandMa’s Marathon].  Jarrow will travel to Thunder Bay with his daughters Veronica and Sacha and his wife Liz, who plans to run her first Ten Miler ever.


REBECCA CARR
Winnipeg, Manitoba
First Female 20-24, 2010

Since her 2010 win in the 20-24 age class, Rebecca’s training has been injury-free for the first time in the last three years.  As a member of the Manitoba Bisons track and field team, she’s been sharpening her competitive edge at the Canada West and CIS Championships. 

For 2011, Rebecca has introduced circuits for core and leg strength into her regimen, her performances are getting stronger, and she’s looking to set more personal bests as the year progresses.  She has her sights set on the Manitoba Half Marathon in June, and is looking forward to contend in the Ten Mile.



HENRY HAMILTON
Neebing, Ontario
First Male 70-79, 2010

Henry’s been competing in the 70-79 age class since 2006, but that didn’t keep him from winning it again in 2010, and slipping under 80 minutes for the second year in a row. 

His training mileage for 2011 has been similar to last year with one significant difference.  Two months spent in Canmore, Alberta with its record snowfalls meant that most of his miles were on a treadmill.

A perennial award winner in the Thunder Bay running scene, Henry is eager to see what the treadmill miles will mean to this year’s race time.



  

DIGITAL MEMORIES OF 2010
  
Thanx to the diligence and generosity of the Ten Miler’s roving band of sports photographers, our website has been populated with hundreds of photos from the 2010 race.  If you were out there pounding the pavement, your efforts have probably been commemorated.


Chase pack:  keeping the lead runners in sight along Water Street.....


Sharon Komar and Russ Greer pass TBay landmarks both recent and traditional.


I ran so fast that my hair.......    
Photos by Darren McChristie
 
To see Darren's entire collection of 2010 Ten Mile Road Race photos, visit www.SuperiorOutdoors.ca.
  

SPRINTS
  
ANOTHER RACE FOR THE K-STAR SERIES
The 2011 Miles With The Giant Thunder Bay Marathon will include an 10K race, and it's just been announced that race will qualify under the Kiwanis Fresh Air Experience Running Star Series. The K-Star Series is an annual challenge series for runners in the Thunder Bay area that involves completing races in four distance categories: one-mile, 5K, 10K and [either] 15K, 10-mile or half marathon.  Your performance is measured against international standards for your age set by the World Association of Veteran Athletes [WAVA].  An annual awards banquet takes place each October.  For further information about the K-Star Running Series, visit the Ten Miler website at 
http://www.10mileroadrace.org/article/other-great-races-321.asp.

LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE
The May edition of Lake Superior Magazine celebrates the evolution and growth of the Ten Mile Road Race from an elite athletic challenge to an ever-broadening community celebration of fitness and healthy lifestyles [on newsstands now!].

CONFIRMED ENTRIES
You’ll find a list of confirmed entries for the Ten Miler on the website @ http://www.10mileroadrace.org/article/2011-entries--individual-runners-to-april-25-2011-420.asp.

RACE RESULTS
Results from races in the Thunder Bay area are attached to the running schedule on the website under 'Other Great Races' as they become available.  If you have results that you'd like to have posted, simply forward them to contact@10mileroadrace.org.
  

TEN MILE TRIVIA

1)  Who held the race record the longest?
2)  How did early runners stay energized and hydrated during the race?
3)  What year did the race attract its largest crowd of spectators?

Watch for the answers in the next edition of this newsletter.

Answers to trivia questions in the last newsletter:
1) Pekka Pairvaranta established the men‟s record of 47:09 in 1975, and Erja Ervonen set the women‟s record of 57:16 in 1994. Both Pekka and Erja travelled from Finland to compete in the race, under the sponsorship of the local Finnish community. The Ten Mile record books are peppered with Finnish names, nowhere more evident than in the 1930's when Finnish sporting organizations were everywhere.
2) The king of defending champions with five straight is Jonathon Balabuck, who won in 2003 and didn‟t relinquish his title until 2009.
Sue Kainulainen had 3 of her 9 wins in successive years [1980, 1981, 1982].  Maureen Grace won 3-in-a-row during the 1970's [1976, 1977 & 1978].  Arjan Gelling went on a winning streak from 1965 to 1967.
3) The first woman officially involved in the race was not a runner. Early competitors had to arrange for attendants to accompany them [often on a bike] for pacing and refreshments. Emilene Burke, a 17-year-old from Port Arthur filled that role for Bill Decko in the 1938 race. The first female to officially run the race was 15-year-old Frances Blanche who finished 13th of 17 in 1968, and was given a special award.