Marathon features as main event in military match; Canadian Forces members compete with pride by Darren Desaulniers
Article from 25 May 09 Ottawa Citizen
http://media.mil.ca/showfile.asp?Lang=E&URL=/fullfeed/national/0905/090525/OTCT/09052523.htm
Ottawa Race Weekend isn't just about elite athletes and your average Joe Running Shoe. There's another aspect to this event that is quickly becoming a tradition for a very special group: the Canadian military.
The weekend serves as the Canadian Forces Championships and is one of two main events held every year. The Military World Games happen every four years, but this event is it as far as national pride is concerned for the fleet of foot.
"All the best runners of the Canadian Forces are gathering here at this event," said Lieut. Charles Nadeau of Quebec City, who placed fourth overall in Sunday's half-marathon with a time of one hour 15 minutes 50 seconds.
Master Warrant Officer Steve McNabb of Ottawa won the open and masters military half-marathon titles in a time of 1:13:13. Sue Atherby, a major from Ottawa, was the top military woman at 1:33:49.
Capt. Dennene Huntley of Petawawa ran the full marathon in 3:18:14, while Acting Sub-Lieut. Michael Mueller of Halifax was the top male, finishing in 2:56:22.
"Everyone you see here competing under the CF banner are full serving military members," said Jeff Manley, and army captain based out of Sydney, N.S., who finished sixth overall in the half-marathon with a time of 1:16:46. "They still have to go to Afghanistan, train for deployments, they still work 10 hours a day and they have to go out and do the running on their own time.
"This is a real special event because it brings everyone together to compete in this championship, to get to see everyone and see all the hard work they've done in spite of all the other commitments."
Nadeau adds that the event provides a chance for members of the military not only to run and compete, but also to ease back into society after serving abroad.
"The sport of running in the army is very important because a lot of people that are going overseas and are seeing what is happening there, they are coming back and it's pretty hard for them to readapt to normal life," Nadeau said. "I believe the sport, and running being a very simple sport, helps them a lot to come back strong, so the transition between the operational theatre and here is easier. This event is a celebration for all of us."
Manley agrees. "This is a first-class event, and for us to be part of it, we're very fortunate. It also gives us good access to the public and they get to see us out doing what we do and it's win-win."
Ottawa Race Weekend isn't the only high-profile military event in town. On Sept. 20, the second Canada Army Run will take place, featuring a five-kilometre run plus half- and full marathons.
The event is styled after the U.S. Army Ten Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon, which attract hundreds of thousands of military and civilian runners and spectators every year.
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A-plus for McNabb, Danais; Homework pays off for champions of half-marathon by Darren Desaulniers
Article from Ottawa Citizen 25 May 09
http://media.mil.ca/showfile.asp?Lang=E&URL=/fullfeed/national/0905/090525/OTCT/09052522.htm
If Master Warrant Officer Steve McNabb had run the half-marathon Sunday with all the hardware around his neck he sported afterward, he would have been too weighed down to finish the Ottawa Race Weekend event.
McNabb won four medals with his half-marathon time of one hour 13 minutes 11 seconds: open and masters men's titles, plus Canadian Forces open and masters titles.
McNabb, who is stationed in Ottawa, finished 19 seconds ahead of Montreal's Nicholas Chadi. Richard Tessier of La Perade, Que., was third with a race time of 1:15:09.
"You do your homework and your training and this is the day you do the test and see how you perform," Mc-Nabb said.
"I've got an A+ if you want to say that, and I'm happy with my performance.
"It's great to compete as a master (40-44 year olds) and run against the 20-year-olds and outrun them."
Marie Danais, who spent seven years in Ottawa before relocating to Quebec City last year, defended her women's half-marathon title.
Now she'll have to come back in 2010 as a two-time defending champion.
"The race was really good," said Danais, whose time was 1:22:30. "It was windy, so it was a couple minutes slower than I was hoping for."
Despite the slower time, Danais loved the event.
"Everything is so nice, and the roads are all cleared and there are so many people.
"One of the really rewarding things is that when you're running down the street everybody knows you and everyone is yelling your name and cheering and they clap; I smiled the whole way.
"I was in pain, but I was smiling the whole way and it was really a lot of fun."
The next three finishers on the women's side were all from Ottawa: Leslie Sanderson (1:26:49), Susan Durrell (1:27:08) and Lisa Balerna (1:27:19).
Oakville's Josh Cassidy won the wheelchair marathon title with his time of 1:35:27.
Michel Filteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., finished second in 1:40.09.
