Perseverance 2014 Race Report

The 10^th annual Perseverance Trail Run was a huge success with 350 racers, 70 volunteers, countless sponsors and supporters coming together this past weekend to raise funds once again for the Cumberland Community Forest Society. For this special 10^th anniversary run, an anonymous donor will be matching 100% of the proceeds raised for the CCFS. The race was followed with a special After Party for the Forest including a massive silent auction and raffle. The total raised from this exciting 10 year celebration will be announced very soon. The CCFS is a local society working to purchase and protect forest lands in the Cumberland area.

The conditions could not have been better for a fall trail race with above seasonal temperatures, blue sky and endless puddles underfoot. Racers came from all over Vancouver Island and as far as Victoria and Port Alberni to tackle the 10K and 3K courses in Cumberland.

The competition on the 10k course was fierce with nearly 250 racers toeing the start line.

Top overall results in the 10k mountain run:

Males

Derek Vinge 50:09

onathan Gendron 50:14

Shelby Drope 52:05

Females

Britt Hason 1:04:10

Sophie Demers 1:05:08

Ivana Bisaro 1:05:24

Nearly 100 racers, young and old, tackled the 3k cross-country run through the Cumberland Community Forest trails.

Top overall results for the 3k cross-country run were as follows:

Males

Gabriel Gledhill 12:38

Stephen Lamon 14:20

Alexander Swift 16:52

Females

Naomi Swift 16:08

Laura Wyatt 17:10

Vivianne Lemay 17:43

The Perseverance Trail Run is run entirely by volunteers and head up by co-race directors Lene Curts (Extreme Runners) and Sarah Seads (Equilibrium Lifestyle Management /ELM) along with Arran Arthur, John Wall and Terry Lewis. It takes a village to put on this event and a huge thank you goes out to nearly 70 enthusiastic volunteers who donated their time and energy before, during and after this years race. Awesome volunteers tackled everything from registration, racer food, finish line, set up, course flagging, course marshaling, course sweeping, take down and more to make the day a success for the racers and the CCFS. A special thank you goes to the Comox Valley Search and Rescue and St. John Ambulance teams who spent the day watching over each and every racer on the course.

This years race once again brought out great costumes and prizes were donated by the Cumberland Village Bakery for the top outfits of the day. With close to 40 draw prizes donated from generous local business' many racers left with big smiles at the end of the day. A very big thank you to this years prize sponsors: Brooks, Riding Fool Hostel, Seeds Market, Mosaic Vision, Active Comox Valley, Comox Valley Acupuncture, Ascent Physiotherapy, Inner Pursuit Fitness, My Tech Guys, Jim Smiley of Remax, Riders Pizza, Wandering Moose Cafe, Valhalla Pure, Hi Tech Printing, Extreme Runners and ELM.

The following community sponsors generously supported the race and helped to make this years event a great success once again: Thrifty Foods, Tim Hortons, ABC Printing, Hi Tech, nrichmedia, Odlum Brown, Mosaic Vision, Comox Valley Record, 97.3 the Eagle, West Jet, SURE copies, Long & Mquade and Whitecaps Coffee. Landowners including the Village of Cumberland & Recreation, CCFS, Timberwest and Comox Timber.

A complete list of results as well as race day photos have been posted at www.perseverancetrailrun.com .