Royal Victoria Marathon Expecting Noteworthy Performances
Posted Friday, 10 October, 2008
VICTORIA, BC, Canada - (October 3, 2008) - Betty Jean McHugh, who holds the World Marathon Record in the W75-79 category, has confirmed she will be running the Royal Victoria Marathon on Sunday, October 12. Now 80, she is hoping to set a new World Record in the W80-84 category.
McHugh set the W75-79 record at Victoria in 2003 in 4 hours, 10 minutes, 7 seconds. In 2005, she ran the Vancouver Marathon in 4:11:28. Coming back from injury last year she set a new Canadian record in the W80-84 at Honolulu in December 2007 (5:06:34). The current world record in the W80-84 is 4:49:50 by Helen Klein (USA). A resident of North Vancouver, McHugh say she isn't daunted by her goal. "I just want to go out and enjoy it. I don't feel any pressure I will just go and do the best I can," she said.
McHugh has run 20 marathons and averages 35 - 40 miles a week. "I don't push the mileage - I do three runs in the week and my weekend long run if I am training for a marathon." She also enjoys half-marathons and set a new age-class world record in that distance at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon this year (2:04:19).
Jon Mahoney, from Vernon, BC, will also run his 300th marathon at Victoria. To commemorate the occasion he will be wearing bib number 300. Mahoney is a member of the Marathon Maniacs, a club devoted to those addicted to marathons.
Mahoney, a retired pilot from Yukon, travels all over the world running marathons. For 14 years, he ran 21 marathons a year. Running his 300th in Victoria will be very special. "I chose Victoria because my friend and mentor Bob Dolphin did his 300th here," he says. Dolphin is one of the founders of the 100 Marathon Club of North America.
Mahoney ran the Bellingham Marathon on September 28 in 3:44 and came 3rd in the 55-59 age group qualifying him for his third Boston Marathon. "I have run Victoria at least 10 times and I am looking forward to it again - it is a beautiful course."
Top entrants and local residents Steve Osaduik and Cheryl Murphy will be aiming to set new course records. Osaduik, who holds the course record of 2:16:49, is hoping to better his 2006 result, while Murphy's sights are set on breaking the 20-year-old women's record of 2:42:32.
The 29th Royal Victoria Marathon takes place Sunday, October 12; in addition to the Marathon there is a Half Marathon, 8K Road Race and Thrifty Foods Kids Run. For registration details and more, visit: www.RoyalVictoriaMarathon.com
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