Canadian 24-Hour Championships
Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour International Race (Ottawa) September
8-9, 2001
Race Report
by Jim Morrison
This past weekend the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team hosted the Canadian 24-Hour Championships, the 10th race in the Ontario Ultra Series. This race would prove to be key in determining the OUS series winners.
Pat Sommers raced hard, running 123km, securing first place in the <50 category and in the Sarson Award (top point achiever, female). Helen Malmberg was able to narrow the gap between herself and Astrid Varga. Both women will have to be ready to race at the Slough. Ron Gehl who ran a hard 169km technically remains ahead of Les Michalak, (154km) with his best 9 races. But Les has only run 8 races to date and just has to finish the Slough to win the 50+ age group. I was able to run 152km locking up the <50 category as Tony Martin was battling injuries and sickness. Les has narrowed the gap for the Sarson Award and I will have to be ready to race as well at The Slough.
The race was held at the Terry Fox Track in Ottawa which has produced many Canadian and American records, but temperatures would dictate that no records were to be broken at this race. Gord England jokingly said he may have broken a record for the most sleep in a 24-Hour race. The day started hot, got hotter and stayed hot all night. Being the Canadian Championships the race draws the big names, Michel Voyer, Ron Gehl, Rolly Portelance, Les Michalak, Wally Herman and Harry Lepp from Danielson Connecticut. Harry ran the first 50 miles in 8:32 only to drop out at 54 miles as he felt his time was too slow. Michel Voyer would go on to run 182.528km to take the overall win.
There was lots of racing going on with less than one kilometre separating 2nd and 3rd place runners Ron Gehl (169.370km) and Rolly Portelance (168.528km). Les Michalak was also able to hold off me the last 90 minutes and widen his 200m lead to 2000m. Jim Martin came on hard the last 12 hours to nudge Hans Maier out of 6th position. Rookie Pat Sommers was the clear women's leader at 123.600km followed closely by 17 year old Cynthia Black at 113.600km. What is in the Kitchener water? Ron Gehl, Steve Govier, now Pat and Cynthia.
The heat took its toll on everyone, with several runners having to drop out including the race leader Harry Lepp. I will never forget the sight of Simon Laporte weaving down the track and looking like he was going to collapse at any moment. Many people took advantage of the air conditioned trailer to reduce their body heat. As a rookie to this race the support from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team was outstanding. Constant cheering came from all the volunteers on every single lap for every runner. The food provided was what ultrarunners crave: soups, pasta, mash potatoes and gravy, chilli, Nanaimo bars, pretzels, chips, cookies, chocolate, coke, etc. Runners and their families can pitch their tent around the track along with chairs, coolers and drop bags. The atmosphere is great with all the runners supporting each other. You really become a tight family for those 24 hours as you walk in each other's shoes. Ron Gehl kept asking me if I was having fun yet. Terry Gehl, Ron's son, is training for the Canadian International Marathon this October and I heard he was just planning to run 42.2 km as a training run. He was having so much fun he ran 100km. It was really great talking to Ron, Hans, Jim, John, Gary, Cynthia and Pat around the track and their support really helped me. After the race feeling exhausted, I said to my wife Wilma, don't ever let me sign up for a 24hr race again. But I have to confess that after only one day those thoughts are already fading and replaced by the memory of the support from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and my friends and family. It was special to be there. Congratulations to all who participated. The Sri Chinmoy philosophy is not to compete against each other but to exceed our own limits and grow as a person. I think we all grew a little taller this weekend.