There has been no shortage of great runners to win the Times Colonist 10K in its more than three decade history. Past winners from the Island have included Olympic track-medallist Angela Chalmers and two-time Olympic marathoner Bruce Deacon. The back-to-back women’s champion in 2017 and 2018 was Dayna Pidhoresky of Tecumseh, Ont., with Malindi Elmore of Kelowna second in 2019. Pidhoresky and Elmore both represented Canada in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics.
Pidhoresky returns as the top-ranked female runner for the 34th Times Colonist 10K on Sunday, with a personal best of 33:20, while top-ranked male Matthew Travaglini, with a personal best of 29:34, hopes his fourth time running the event will give him a first victory. He has won U Sports medals on the track for the University of Calgary Dinos and competed in the world trail running championships but there is something about pounding the pavement.
“Road racing will always have a special place in my heart,” said Travaglini, who won the Bazan Bay 5K last year and has had a third-place finish in the massive Vancouver Sun Run.
“Trail racing is the most scenic, track is the most intense, but road racing is the most fun, especially in a place like Victoria.”
The 30-year-old native of London, Ont., graduated from the U of C with a degree in geomatic engineering. He said running provides a balance in his life as he pursues his engineering career.
“I run because I love it,” he said.
“Running is my great escape. It can be a grind, too, but it’s a ton of fun.”
The elite end of the race Sunday will not lack for speed. Joining Travaglini and Pidhoresky will be former national training centre triathlete Andrew Russell, a Royal Victoria Half Marathon winner and fourth last year in the Times Colonist 10K, triathlete and UVic Vikes runner Daniel Damian, a Canada West track medallist, former national triathlon training centre athlete and three-time national masters cross-country champion Jen Millar, world cross-country championships runner Kate Ayers, McGill University runner Jack Stanley and World Military Games runner Logan Roots of Cumberland.
“I’ve had some good races in the past in Victoria and I will try to channel that Sunday,” said the Olympian Pidhoresky, as she looks for the Times Colonist 10K women’s hat-trick.
The Times Colonist 10K, like all sporting events, is rebounding from the pandemic. The 2020 race was cancelled and the 2021 event was held virtually. More than 5,500 participated in its live return last year with more than 7,500 registered so far this year as the race looks to rebuild. More than 9,600 participated in the last pre-pandemic race in 2019.
“We are successfully growing back to that level, and beyond, and that is a huge win for the community,” said Mark deFrias, the producer of the event.
Live registration and package pick-up is at Uptown today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and online registration is open today until 2 p.m. at runsport.ca.
“The races are getting bigger again and you can sense the resurgence,” said Travaglini.
“I believe you will see that reflected in the numbers Sunday.”
The race begins at 8 a.m. in the legislature precinct with the finish line in front of the legislature on Belleville Street.
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