Coralie Ullyett posts top female time in weekly Intersport fun run

Inspiration. We all strive for it.

Inspiration. We all strive for it.

It could be life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness or even peace, order and good government.

Inspiration is why runners and walkers from the leisurely to the fleet of foot participate in the weekly Intersport Five-km fun run and walk held on Tuesday evenings.

These races are not so much about the accomplishments of Whitehorse’s many A-list athletes even though they get the headlines.

It’s more about being inspired to run and walk towards some kind of goal.

The goal could be weight loss or getting in shape or getting faster or just having fun.

The fun factor is very evident before and after the race as the participants mingle with each other often socializing long after the last runner has crossed the finish line.

With a fall-like temperature of nine degrees and light rain, the weather was not inspiring on Tuesday night. But Coralie Ullyett was quite inspired when she found herself leading the female side of the five-km run.

Crossing the finish line with a season best time of 26:10, Ullyett kept ahead of two other runners who were not that far behind.

Nicole Hulstein, preparing for a marathon in England this fall, ran faster with each passing kilometre, finishing in second place a minute behind Ullyett with a time of 27:13.

Kristi Mueller (28:32) took third spot crossing the finish line with Hulstein almost in sight.

Doug Mayr (21:52) was all by himself at the head of the race from start to finish. He had a powerful group of runners just behind him cruising at a medium tempo pace.   

This group included second place finishers Rodney Hulstein and Don White both running the same time (23:41) followed by Graydon Parry (23:49) and his father Bill Parry (23:55).

The sixth place finisher was masters runner Brian Mottus who posted his best time of the season finishing just under the 25-minute mark (24:51).

Even though Tom Ullyett was the fastest walker (31:32), it was a holy trinity of female race walkers that once again staged an inspirational showing of athleticism.

Bonnie Love (34:36), Tanya Astika (34:36) and Arlene Ogden (35:06) paced each other through the first three-km. But in the final stretch it was every woman for herself with Love and Astika crossing the line together and Ogden 30 seconds behind (35:06).

Other upcoming Athletics Yukon events include the Sportslife Trail Run, which will be held tonight at the Grey Mtn. Road. The run begins at 6:30 p.m. and is approximately 6.5-km.

On Saturday, the Mayo Midnight Marathon, Half Marathon and 10-km is being held.

The event starts at the Mayo Recreation Centre at 11:45 p.m.

Article provided by Tom Ullyett on behalf of Athletics Yukon.