Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Humid Hop For Road Runners Through Glenella

Images:
L-R: Riley Matsen, Peter Ford and Andrew Short well pleased with their running efforts in the 10km

Alana Ford (left) and Jose Short congratulate each other on their 10km efforts

L-R: Jo Hughes, Natasha Joynson, Kim Saron and Emma Johnson warmup before their 5km event

More than thirty competitors ran head-on into humid conditions last Sunday afternoon for the 11th race in the Shawn’s Summer Social Series with Mackay Road Runners.  

Race Director, Jim Ford, arranged a flat fast course through Glenella from the Magpies Sporting Complex with various race distance options. Oliver Rule, Joe Grech, Rodney Elworthy and Paul Mackenzie made the 12km distance look easy as they sprinted from the gun through the meandering course to the finish line. Birthday girl, Tahnie Malagueno, had a superb run over the longer distance especially after being spoilt all day by her family.  Excellent performances also came from Alana Knesevic, Carolyn Malagueno, Alan Zamparutti, Jose Short, Carmel Mahon, June Bradley, Andrew Wallace, Andrew Short, Peter Ford and newcomer Riley Matsen.

Five-kilometre athletes, Daniel Stampa, Kim Saron, Jo Hughes, Emily Dalglish, Emma Johnson, Natasha Joynson, Adam Knesevic, Jim Ford, Vivien and Harvey Knesevic found the shorter distance more to their liking with temperature soaring into the thirties with 87 per cent humidity.  Light winds and shaded pathways did alleviate the blazing sun to a small degree, however, all runners were looking for the zooper doopers by the finish line.

This Sunday’s Shawn’s Summer Series Social event commences at the usual time of 5:30pm with arrival at the Blacks Beach Tavern by 5:20pm at the latest for course description and Mackay Road Runners Club notices. The Blacks Beach annual event includes the infamous stairs and distances will be catered to varying levels of fitness.  

There will only be four more of the Shawn’s Summer Social Series before the formal Mackay Road Runner Season starts on 12th February.

Upcoming events for the Mackay Road Runners Club:

The Annual General Meeting on January 23 at Techserve office, Tennyson Street, Mackay at 5:30pm.

Mackay Road Runners hosting Parkrun January 28 at 7am.

Jet Maintenance Sports Expo and Sign-on at the MECC from 9am to 1pm on February 12.

Contributed by Janelle Tilse

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