When I got my race number (#1221) for the California International Marathon I immediately assembled my top notch race-number-analysis team (Mika, Eileen, and Derek) to decipher its meaning. The first prediction was a 12 hour 21 min finish time. Possible no doubt, but even I would have to get seriously lost to achieve that time. Closer analysis revealed it was going to be a palindromic finish time. Using some complex algorithms Mika was then able to conclude that my finish time would be 3.33. Oh, that would be nice I said…but I don’t think so.

After 4 months of training Lisa and I arrive in Sacramento just before midnight on Friday Dec 2nd. When we walk over to the race expo on the following Saturday morning, the day before the race, strong blustery winds alternately nearly blow us over and stop us dead in our tracks – uh oh - we could only cross our fingers and hope the wind would die down overnight. Neither of us fancied fighting this wind on race day. We had both trained hard for this marathon – but we were having a tough time committing to a particular goal time. Our heart rates climbed exponentially as we approached the pace bunny table at the expo. I focused for a while on the 3.40 pace bunny photo and non-committedly picked up the mile splits for this goal time – it would be a significant PB – Lisa, however, would have none of it and kept trying to shove me further down the table towards the faster times.  Lisa’s friend Fanny met us at the expo and whisked us away for a fun tour of the Napa Valley and some wine-tasting. We had exhausted the sights of Sacramento in less than an hour and seeing Napa in its beautiful autumnal colours was a lot more appealing than staying in town and worrying about the race – thanks Fanny! Lisa had read that Sacramento was, somewhat surprisingly, famous for its caviar. So at the Chateau Domaine Carneros wine-tasting we sampled some of the local (white sturgeon) caviar (a tiny 4oz jar between us) and sipped sparkling wine. We decided that if we had really great races the next day that this ‘champagne and caviar’ thing would have to always be our pre-race ritual. Some may think that this was a little reckless – but those little black eggs are loaded with electrolytes, and it is a scientific fact that champagne bubbles have magical properties.

Provisional results of the 2011 Gunner Shaw are now posted: 

Link to 10k results

Link to 5k Silver Fox results

Many thanks to all participants and volunteers for another great outing at Jericho. Full report will appear on this site soon. Please check your own results and if you spot any errors (spelling, division, time, team affiliation etc) please contact Roger Brownsey (romapapa@telus.net) ASAP.

Past and present Lions Gaters and well as friends of LGRR were on hand to celebrate this special evening. 5 of the original 6 founders from 1971  were on hand to help us celebrate.

We had glowing comments from so many guests. Thanks to the organizing committee for arranging this special evening.

Here are some links to photos from the celebrations.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/171968022859477/

Here also is a link to view some photos taken by Hans Fenz

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hans_fenz/sets/72157627680165231/

Submitted by Frank Stebner

A RUNNING AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

On Saturday, October 1st, Lions Gate Road Runners will celebrate the past 40 years as a club and the community of running in Vancouver. Please join current and past members, as well as the many friends of the club at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver's Yaletown to commemorate this special occasion.

Steve King (the voice) will be the MC for the evening. Founding members Jack Taunton, Ivor Davies, Bob Cormack and Ed MacDonald, will be in attendance and hopefully a few other special guests including Don Basham who was the original race director of the Vancouver International (LGRR) Marathon and the James Cunningham Seawall Race.

Tickets are $65 or $520 for a table of eight. To purchase on line, please go to the following link: http://arthritis.akaraisin.com/LGRRRunningAffair

If you prefer to send a cheque, please mail to:
LIONS GATE ROAD RUNNERS
PO Box 74576, Kitsilano RPO
Vancouver, BC V6K 4P4

Former Lions Gater Steve Odwin (#255) in hard-running action at Minoru track in Richmond (likely in the early 1990's).  Steve was a wonderful runner and great friend to many Lions Gaters.  It was with great sadness that we recently learned of Steve's passing.  Our thoughts are with Vivi.  A card will be available for signatures at the Miracle Mile on Friday.  It will be a fitting time to pay tribute to Steve.

We started this tradition in 2004 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the famous Mile race that took place as part of the Commonwealth and Empire Games held in Vancouver in 1954. The race featured a small but distinguished cast that included the two top milers and only sub-4 min performers of all time back then, Roger Bannister and John Landy.

All runners and friends are invited to join us for this low-key mile race on the original track followed by a pot-luck picnic. Further details are at http://www.lgrr.com/page.php?31

Andre Gerard (a Lions Gater for the past two years) was a close friend of the late Bruce (Gunner) Shaw.  He has recently published a book called "Fathers - A Literary Anthology". Andre is looking for support from Lions Gate for his 3 K walk on Fathers Day, June 19 on part of the Gunner Shaw Cross Country Course at Jericho Beach.

Check out his blog with links to his book website: http://patremoirpress.com/events/

Also below is a link to a recent interview with Andre.

Click on the podcast link on this webpage:  http://thecommentary.ca/ontheline/641-andre-gerard/

Results:
Results from the 2011 Shaughnessy 8k Road Race and 5k Poker Walk results can be viewed here on the Winning Time web site.

Photo Links:

• Photos by Maxi Liebrecht

• Photos by Leo and Kevin Lam.