Surrey Star Wars fan saves 2020 fireworks for PEN RUN Resolution Race – Vancouver Sun
OPINION: Asked what stands out for him during the past decade, Wednesday’s winner Jeremiah Mackie laughed and offered: “Well, when the decade started I was 7, so a few things have changed!”
The annual PEN RUN Resolution Race was held Wednesday morning at Crescent Park in Surrey and more than 260 runners — some in interesting costumes — showed up for the 8K and 4K trail races. Gord Kurenoff / Postmedia News
SURREY — Jeremiah Mackie went out New Year’s Eve to watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker with some friends and went to bed at a decent time.
On New Year’s Day, more than 260 runners at sunny Crescent Park — some who confessed to having one too many beverages while kissing 2019 farewell — watched the 17-year-old give a “crash force” in mud racing as he “Chewied” up the competition and won the first 8K of PEN RUN’s 2020 Fraser Valley Trail Run Series under clear skies in 28 minutes and change.
And no, he didn’t wear “Darth Waders!”
“Pretty neat result to start 2020,” smiled the polite Mackie, a member of the South Surrey Coastal Track Club who finished third last year in the annual Resolution Race and two spots behind the winner — his brother Jackson — who didn’t compete this year because of travel commitments.
“The course was pretty good today despite all the rain yesterday. There were some small, single-track sections that were kind of hard to get through just because it was slippery, and I was only wearing my trainers so they didn’t have any grip on them so I was kind of sliding through that section, but other than that it was pretty good.”
Some runners decided to “wing it” on New Year’s Day at Crescent Park in Surrey as the 2020 PEN RUN Fraser Valley Trail Run Series got underway. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Mackie, who lapped a number of runners in the 4K race, admitted that having to weave around people in the final kilometre likely cost him a few seconds, too. (Official results will be released in a day or two by PEN RUN and what that happens we’ll post them right here.)
“No complaints about the course or the weather. I was here to have fun and I did,” added Mackie. “I train and run in all kinds of weather, as most do, but I’m sure a lot of people here today were happy not to start the new year running in pouring rain.”
Asked about goals in 2020, the 3,000-metre specialist said he wants to run a 3K in under eight minutes and 40 seconds — don’t we all? — and go under four minutes in the 1,500 metres. He also wants to excel in indoor track meets this winter with his club.
Asked what stands out for him during the past decade, Mackie laughed and offered: “Well, when the decade started I was 7, so a few things have changed!”
Kids, eh? Yoda man, Jeremiah!
Here are a few other New Year’s Day gems from Crescent Park:
Dr. Philip Cilliers of Langley, right, made a surprise appearance at the finish line Wednesday and seemed to be sweating much less than his snack-happy patient!
Dr. Phil makes surprise appearance
On Friday I had an appointment to see Dr. Philip Cilliers in Langley to go over some personal health stuff. We ended the appointment with a few running tales, as he once upon a time tackled hard and long distances at great speeds before his knees begged for early retirement.
He’s a smart guy, and a fantastic doctor who reminded me to watch my calorie intake and to “enjoy running while you can, because one day you won’t be able to.”
(Not sure if he tells every patient this, or just the ones who eat snacks, cookies and burgers and can’t seem to stay disciplined over the holidays?)
So, perhaps the highlight of my day was seeing Dr. Phil cross the 4K finish line in a respectable time.
“My knees might hate me tonight or tomorrow, but the weather was good and I had to try, right?” smiled Dr. Cilliers, who looked like the happiest guy in Surrey crossing the finish line.
Fun On The Run blogger Gord Kurenoff, right, takes a selfie with Mary Hinze, centre, Sandra Jongs Sayer, Soraya Spier, Glenn Rideout and Jim Hinze before the start of Wednesday’s races in Surrey.
Scary spill for Mary
Mary Hinze, no stranger to road races or those who take part in them, had a nasty wipeout at about the 3K mark on Wednesday morning and for a few seconds looked like she had twisted or broken an ankle.
With hubby Jim playing medic, they walked for about a minute and then resumed running, blaming a slippery patch for the spill.
Mary thanked me later for offering to “help” when she went down.
“But I didn’t need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or to cuddle until help arrived, but thanks for your kind offers,” Mary said laughing. “Maybe next year!”
The Aldergrove Ramble 4.8K and 8K, the second stop in the PEN RUN series, goes Sunday, Jan. 26. The third and final leg is the Fort-2-Fort Trail Run 5- and 10-Miler, set for Feb. 23. For more information, or to enter, click HERE.
Sandra Jongs Sayer, right, and Gord Kurenoff sprint to the finish line Wednesday after a deal not to sprint to the finish line fell through! (Glenn Rideout photo)
Cramping the Coach’s style
Sandra Jongs Sayer, sporting clean runners and new Christmas electronics, agreed to run with this excited blogger during a weak moment on Wednesday.
“Sure, we’ll keep the 4K fun,” said Coach Smiley, who in 2019 crushed the inaugural Revel Marathon in Chilliwack and a couple half marathons, including RUN VAN’s First Half Half with me last February on the coldest day of the decade.
And for 3.6 kilometres we kept it fun New Year’s Day, until Coach sensed a strong surge on my part and figured it was an invitation to sprint to the finish.
“It was a leg cramp or something that felt weird,” I told her after pleading not guilty of breaking our pre-race pact.
“But you didn’t slow down and you kind of cut me off right at the end with your elbow,” replied Coach. “What kind of ‘cramp’ is that?”
Speaking of awkward silence.
Turns out she’ll be running with me at the Steveston Icebreaker 8K on Sunday, Jan. 19, just to make sure that “nasty cramp” doesn’t act up again. Expect Coach Smiley to crank up the speed for the first 7Ks to ensure there are no “weird feelings” with my leg once the finish line is in sight!
For more info on that great Kajaks-hosted race and the New Balance 1K Kids’ Run, click HERE.
Happy New Year!
Gotta run …