Handloggers Helpers, and Winners too

On Saturday, September 2 the Handloggers Half Marathon celebrated its 10th annual race with over 200 runners.

This is a multi-elevation 21+K mountain trail race. The race starts at the base of Snug Cove with the swing of an axe to start the race, runners cruise through Crippen Park to Killarney Lake, climb up to Handloggers Trail on Mt. Gardner and circumnavigate around the mountain then back through Crippen to cross the finish line with the refreshing ocean breeze at the causeway.

Emily Osborne, Handloggers women’s champion in 2018, recently returned to Bowen Island from New Zealand, and took second place in the women’s competition at 2 hr 11 mins. Pam Matthews put in a strong run to take the top women’s Masters position at 2 hr 30 mins.

Colin Kerr, also a former champ, was the first Bowen Islander across the line at 2 hr 5 mins. It was great to see Tim Hausch make a comeback from a period of illness and complete the race again in 3 hr 55 mins.

First place went to Peter Nowicki of North Vancouver with an impressive 1 hr 50 mins, second to another North shore runner Cameron Cook at 1 hr 52 mins, and third to Adrian Lambert of Edmonton in 1 hr 53 mins.

While the distance of the race is serious, our volunteer run aid stations brought the fun with costume, cheer, and motivation to keep striving for the finish. A big thank you and deep gratitude to all our volunteers, many who have supported this race over the last 10 years: Jane Osborne, Jenny Harris, Steve Edwards, Kim Ridgewell and Mike, Karla Everitt, Krista Baker and Duncan, Reg Johnson and Zarah Hofer, Courtenay McGillivray and son, Robin Birney, Susanne and Elisabeth Herrington, Anja Sheridan, Kristina Calli, Leah Gregg, Wendy McKernan, Roger Brownsey, Maureen Mackey, Alyssa Hoates, Lisa Holleman, Alison Rogers, Mary Ann McPersoon, Margaret Butler, Hilary Butler, Melanie McCready, Joan Vyner, Alicia, Kim, Karla, Candace Bajoric, Lisa Brougham, Vanessa Ramirez Jasso, Devon Baker, and Tim Hausch.