Annual One Mile Run, net moderate downhill, which leads the Canada Day Parade. 10:15am start. Email me for details, or visit
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Here is my personal history of the event which I posted on our local forum. It may give you an idea of the competition, which continues to rise, and may get really "hot" this year:
This will be the 12th running of the 5th St Mile. I think we need to compile a history. These are some personal remembrances from my diaries....apologies for only knowing the top male times.....
96: The event was basically a secret, starting in the Old Orchard area before making a left turn onto 5th, and Scott Sexton won in 4:36. He was embarrassed as he ran down 5th St and heard people saying "who are these runners and what are they doing?" I went to Sydney 5k insead!!!
97: Les Black and I had just raced in Kelowna, and we agreed to "hard tempo together" to the bridge. We were both tired, and no faster guys were there. At the bridge, I lamely surged. Les then went by, finishing in 4:29, with me at 4:30. Keith did 4:39.
98: With BC Seniors track a couple days later, I didn't run 5th St. My dog Ziggy died. I have no recollection of 5th St results for this year. I think a young guy outsprinted Steve for the win in 4:37. Brendan Power???
99: Royer led to halfway, I surged, and won easily in 4:36. My, have winning times changed since those days! I cannot remember anything else about this year.
00: It was drizzly. A "pretender" led to the tracks, and I was the only one who followed him closely. By Sound Station, I was in the lead, alone. I wore a flag. At Cliffe I turned around to see the bald and smiling head of Andrew Hallam. "WTF are YOU doing there?" It was a shock, and I panicked the last 300m. I won in 4:33. Andrew ran 4:36.
01: I'll never forget this one! I proudly announced in the weeks beforehand that I would break Les Black's record. I was stressed as I warmed up. I had placed too much pressure on myself, and a big stupid hat on my head. At the tracks (400m) in 67sec, I felt like crap. It was too hard and stressful. I wasn't relaxed at all. I thought I was clear at halfway, but I felt awful. Royer was RIGHT THERE by the pub. He blew by me on the steep downhill after Cliffe, I lamely went by him on the bridge, and then, grunting and groaning, he took off again, to finish in 4:25, with me at 4:27, shattered by the experience. I had been Royer's bitch! I even announced that I would be in the weeks before! To this day, a) it always bugs me that Royer, Mr Ultraguy, ran a faster 5th St than me, Mr Milerguy, and b) I have never seen Royer race so well. Ryan Ervin was 4:35, after biking in from Washington! Keith was 4:44.
02: In December 2001 I had the biggest injury of my running career. Pam was at the back of the field in 10min something. I "swept" just behind her, and I swear I tell the honest to god truth: It wasn't easy for me to run this pace on roads. My leg was very weak. Some new guy called Holm won in a record 4:21. Chris Gordon was 4:23, and Royer ran another great one, 4:28. Robin Poirier was 4:33.
03: A huge accomplishment for me: 4:45!!! I was absolutely thrilled to be able to compete again. After the start, I watched all the fast bastards takeoff into the distance. Things had definitely changed now, hahaha. 71sec at the tracks! Wonderful. Passed Terry. Passed Dylan. Royer not so far ahead! WTF? 2:59 at Extreme. (1000m) Wow!!! Felt relaxed, controlled and happy. I didn't kill myself after the bridge. Wakelin caught me at the line, but I didn't care. To be able to run 4:45 again was such a gift. Neil 4:23, Robin 4:32, Steve 4:34, Keith 4:44.
04: My comeback continues: Felt great to the tracks in 69sec!!! With Jason Whale and Royer. I held back for the middle 800m, wanting to finish strong this time. Royer surged at Extreme (2:56), but it wasn't decisive. I surged hard at Cliffe, and as I ran towards the bridge, I was having Royer Flashbacks 2001!!! But, this time I didn't see Steve again. Very pleased with 4:38. (4:39 by my watch.) A young guy from Louisiana set a new record of 4:19. Andrew Howard was 4:26. Robin was 4:34. Royer was 4:42ish, and Keith 4:47.
05: My comeback continues still!!!: Very worried on first 400m. Dozens in front of me!! "Am I ill / tired?" At the tracks I saw 68 and laughed! "Whew! A bunch of ambitious people this year!" One by one they fell off the pace, and it was clear sailing at halfway. At Extreme in 2:51. Yikes!!! I was alone from there, and didn't race well on the last 600m. I felt somewhat detatched. Still, 4:33 (4:35 by my watch) was beyond my wildest dreams just 2 years before. Chris did a new record 4:14. Neil uncorked a shocking 4:16. Robin ran barefoot for a 4:27. Stoner did 4:29. Wakelin was 4:40.
06: DAMMIT!!! A summer of foot problems. I cycled. It really hurt not to try and run faster still. A group of 4 came off the bridge together!!! Wow. Chris-Cameron Levins-Mark from Victoria-and Neil were 1st to 4th in 4:19-4:20