The Intersport Fun Run/Walk runners met last night for their last group practice in the lead up to this weekend's Klondike Road Relay.

The runners met at F.H. Collins Secondary School and set off along the five-kilometre course they have been running since early May as part of Athletics Yukon. The course begins in front of F.H. Collins School, winds its way along the Millennium trail and finishes again in front of the school.

The front male runners were Rodney Hulstein who came in well ahead of the pack with a time of 17:39. Coming up in second was Doug Mayr with 21:31 and Bob Bowerman a minute later with 22:49.

"I just kind of took the last couple kilometres hard" that's my strategy," said Hulstein.

The women had a fairly close race with Jennifer Whipple placing first at 26:29. Second place was close with Brenda Dion taking the spot at 27:29, and Jeanne Burke coming in a few seconds later at 27:44.

The three walkers were close together with Ruth Hall finishing at 34:55. Arlene Ogden was right behind her finishing at 34:58 and Becky Streigler finished up the course at 35:17.

Many of the runners have been using the Tuesday night run to train for this weekend's Klondike Road Relay, which sets off from Skagway, Alaska, on Friday.

The race is expected to finish off in Whitehorse on Saturday afternoon.

Hulstein's time of 17:39 is down slightly from last July when he clocked in at 17 minutes flat for the 5 km run.

"Last summer I was running a few minutes faster," said Hulstein. "But that's what happens when you don't get enough time for training."

Hulstein is returning to the Klondike Road Relay after a few years hiatus in preparation for a half marathon he will be running over the Thanksgiving weekend.

"Klondike Road Relay is something I haven't been able to do for awhile," said Hulstein. "I've done it a number of times in the past."

Hulstein will be running the sixth leg of the Klondike Relay, a gruelling 26 kms that starts at 4 a.m. In his previous runs at the Relay, Hulstein has participated during the day. He says running in the dark will be an interesting experience. "I'm excited about doing it for sure," he said.

"There should be some decent competition," said Hulstein. The runner expects reigning champs Take No Prisoners to be his biggest threat. The team has taken the 6th leg a few years in a row, Hulstein says.

The group was relatively small for the Tuesday night runs, and organizers say many runners took the night off in preparation for the Klondike Relay.

The Tuesday night runs have been going on in the same place for 30 years in the same location, Athletics Yukon director Don White said.

Intersport 5 Km Fun Run/Walk

September 8th, 2009

Results

Male

5 Km Runners

1 Rodney Hulstein 17:39

2 Doug Mayr 21:31

3 Bob Bowerman 22:49

4 Clark Laprairie 24:02

5 Roger Hulstein 24:31

6 Brian Mottus 24:32

7 Ben Yu-schott 26:27

8 Randy Lamb 26:39

9 Bryan Craven 27:29

10 Don White & Kemper 32:19

11 Charlie Roots 33:07

Female

5 Km Runners

1 Jennifer Whipple 26:29

2 Brenda Dion 27:29

3 Jeanne Burke 27:44

4 Nicole Hulstein 28:41

5 Sara Burke-Forsyth 30:33

6 Theresa White 32:19

5 Km Walkers

1 Ruth Hall 34:55

2 Arlene Ogden 34:58

3 Becky Streigler 35:17