Three Camrose runners
finish in top seven in Edmonton Marathon By Dan Jensen
Brendan
Lunty came from behindto win the Edmonton Marathon August 22.
Camrose runners were front and centre on the leaderboard at the Canadian Derby
Marathon in Edmonton August 22.
Brendan Lunty, an x-ray technician at the Viking hospital, placed first in the
42 km race with a personal best time of two hours, 33 minutes and 17 seconds.
Robert Renman, co-coach of the Augustana cross country running team placed fifth,
while Ian Blokland placed seventh.
"It was cool to see that many Camrose runners do well in the race,"
said Brendan. "There were just as many Camrose people in the top ten as Edmonton
people."
Brendan fell behind early in the race and by the 10 km mark could no longer see
the motorcycle that was pacing the lead runner. He received a big psychological
boost when, after passing through a residential area, he saw that he was gaining
ground.
"It gives you quite a lift when you get to the point that you are able to
see the lead runner and feel that you are able to reel him in," said Brendan,
who took the lead at the 35 km mark. "When you can't see him anymore it just
seems impossible."
Brendan has raced in a number of other marathons this year. He finished fourth
in the San Francisco Marathon in April, won the Saskatoon Marathon in May and
placed 11th in the Vancouver Marathon, also in May.
"The Vancouver Marathon was a big one," he said. "I would guess
there were about four thousand racers who were competing."
Brendan's goal as a long distance runner is to continually improve, but even more
importantly, to enjoy himself. He has raced in the Boston Marathon twice and has
plans in the future to run in the New York City Marathon, a race for which he
has already qualified.
"You know, this is nothing we are getting rich or famous or anything for,
so if you can't enjoy it I don't see the point," he said. "As long as
I keep enjoying it I will continue to keep on doing it."
Brendan feels that being able to train as a member of the Camrose Running Club
with Renman, Blokland, Gerhard Lotz and others has helped him make improvements
to his running style and get him to the point that he wants to be as an athlete.
"We have a healthy cooperation and somewhat of a competition too within the
club," he stated. "It is so beneficial to have those guys encourage
you and push you. Without those guys there is no way I would be able to run in
the times I have this year."
From what he has seen, Brendan believes the Camrose Running Club has to be ranked
as one of the strongest in the province.
"For the size of community, it is actually quite remarkable that we have
so many strong runners."