Two Coasters, now living in the Lower Mainland, put in good showings for Canada at the recent Commonwealth Running Championships in Wales.
Shaun Stephens-Whale of Roberts Creek finished 23rd overall, which he said was a disappointing finish at the late September event.
Stephens-Whale was hoping for a higher finish, but an injury hampered his efforts.
"Getting to the race site in Llanberis was tedious, planes, trains and cars, but once there and settled in, I had to overcome a knee injury that I sustained the week before, running in Thetis Lake Park, Victoria," he said. "Race morning started well. I was in the top 10 at the start, but as the race progressed, it was becoming more evident that my injury hadn't improved. But I managed to pass two runners just before the finish. I was disappointed, but still had a great time."
Sechelt's Kristin Ohm-Pedersen was moving through the course well, but was pulled from the race due to dangerous incoming high tides.
"There is a section each lap where the course went out onto a sand spit to an island, and then back along the sand spit to the mainland," she said. "I was struggling with back issues and therefore running slower than I had hoped. By the time I reached the beach for my fifth and final lap, the tide had turned and the sand spit was too dangerous; it would shortly be covered by water. Understandably, I was quite disappointed."
Despite that setback, she said the race was a lot of fun and the course was stunning, winding along the beach and through the forest.
"My fellow athletes were good-humoured, sweet and friendly. The organization of the whole weekend went off without a hitch, and I am so impressed with all the events, the opening and the closing ceremonies," she said.
Ohm-Pedersen was able to overcome her injuries and run Run for the Toad, a 50-km race in Ontario six days later, which was this year's Canadian Cham-pionships. "While I wasn't able to race the way I wanted to, I finished 27th female and 10th in my age category. Not too shabby," she said.
