Outside competition brings out the best in 10 Miler race

The Chocolate Claim 10-Miler is a fixture in the running calendar. For more than 10 years this event has been a rite of passage for those planning to participate in the Klondike Road Relay.

The Chocolate Claim 10-Miler is a fixture in the running calendar. For more than 10 years this event has been a rite of passage for those planning to participate in the Klondike Road Relay.

More than 40 runners and walkers participated in last Sunday’s Chocolate Claim 10-Miler. It’s no wonder because 10-mile road races have been popular in Canada for decades. For example, Lethbridge’s 10-Miler is 36 years old and the one in Thunder Bay has been going for 76 years.

The Acura 10-Miler held in Toronto last month had more than 1,700 participants.

The Chocolate Claim course is challenging with three significant hills including the first two hills on the Schwatka Lake Road. It mimics the last six kilometres of Leg 10 of the Road Relay.

The route begins and finishes at Rotary Park, follows the Riverwall portion of the Millennium Trail to the South Access Road and then down the Schwatka Lake Road to the Miles Canyon Road, over the suspension bridge in Miles Canyon and then back to Rotary Park following the Chadburn Lake Road and Riverdale roads.

Dennis Colburn of Edmonton took an early lead until he went off course at the one-kilometre mark. But by the four-mile mark Colburn was back on course and once again in the lead. His final time of 1:04:36 was the fastest of the event. He likely would have been under the 60 minute mark if he hadn’t gone astray early on.

In the last six kilometres, Teslin’s Karl Blattman battled Bill Matiation for second place. But in the end, Blattman (1:05:59) claimed the number two spot by opening up a bit of daylight between him and the jaguar-like Matiation at the two kilometre mark.

After that, Blattman put on the cruise control and finished 18 seconds ahead of Matiation (1:06:17).

Following Matiation were his Klondike Road Relay teammates Tom Ullyett (1:07:08) and Doug Mayr (1:08:33).

Once again Sue Bogle topped the women’s side. The Athletics Yukon website shows that she has always been in the top three of this event and has won it a few times as she did on Sunday.

Bogle’s winning time of 1:13:32 made her one of the fastest racers of the day and put her at the top of the women’s field of 28 runners.

Behind Bogle were the usual fast suspects. Amy Riske (1:17:58) dashed to the finish line in an effort to catch basketball coach Sean McCarron (1:17:56) who finished just two seconds ahead of her.

In a case of youth prevailing over age, Julia Gerlach (1:21:18) out sprinted Ross Knox (1:21:21) and became the third fastest woman. The next four women were Laura Vanderklay (1:26:13), Margaret Mundell (1:29:48) and Robin Fairburn (1:30:01) who charged to the finish line in an effort to stay ahead of Sheila Merkley (1:30:33).

Rounding out the top ten were Deb Kiemele (1:32:12), Michelle Boleen (1:32:19) and Jeannette Gallant (1:32:56) who clearly had a splendid battle over the course finishing within 44 seconds of each other.

Race walking speedsters Ruth Hall and Bonnie Love sprinted to the finish line crossing at the same time (1:55:41). Jane Haydock (2:01:23) did not let a collision with a car on Lewes Boulevard take her out of the race. She completed the race and, amazingly, finished just six minutes behind the leaders to claim third place.

Please see the Athletics Yukon website for the complete results of Sunday’s race as well as all future events (http://www.athleticsyukon.ca/).

Article provided by Tom Ullyett on behalf of Athletics Yukon.