The annual Texada Island Run the Rock marathon, half-marathon and eight-kilometre race took place Sunday, August 18, despite the impending storm warning for the entire Sunshine Coast.
Race organizer Linda Krepinsky said 91 brave runners completed Run the Rock 2024.
"We had put out a challenge [earlier in the year] to see if anyone would be able to beat three hours on the marathon course," said Krepinsky. "That has only happened once before in the history of this race."
No one beat the challenge at this year's race, but the marathon winner, Lucas Mulhall from West Vancouver, had a time of three hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds.
Organizers claim Run the Rock is Canada’s toughest road marathon, so running 42 kilometres in a little over three hours is nothing to shrug at.
Here's are the other winning times for Run the Rock 2024:
First female marathon winner, Jody Lownds from Black Creek, finished the race in four hours, two minutes and 37 seconds.
First male half-marathon winner, Graeme Stoneman from Nanaimo, finished the race in one hour, 32 minutes and 25 seconds.
First female half-marathon winner, Jill Sickavish from Saskatoon, finished the race in one hour, 59 minutes and 47 seconds.
First male eight-kilometre winner, Will Rice from Saskatoon, finished the race in 34 minutes and 13 seconds.
First female eight-kilometre winner, Daniela Raymond from the qathet region, finished the race in 39 minutes and 46 seconds.
Krepinsky said the event had 90 volunteers supporting runners from Van Anda to Shelter Point. This year's event was well attended by race participants and volunteers compared to last year's run, she added. Last year, Run the Rock had 75 runners compared to 91 this year, and 90 volunteers compared to 60 last year.
According to seasoned marathoners and race finishers, Run the Rock on Texada Island is one of the toughest road marathons in North America. This was the 11th year for the race, which has drawn participants from Vancouver Island, the qathet region and in the past, all the way from Europe.
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