It was third time lucky – although there was clearly more than luck involved.
In his third half-marathon ever, Salmon Arm’s Matt Mead ran faster than more than 1,200 racers, placing first in the BMO Okanagan Half-Marathon held in Kelowna on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Mead completed the 21.1-kilometre race in one hour, 19 minutes and 22 seconds, putting him first overall and first in his men’s 30 to 39 year category. His 10-k time was 37:08.
Mead grew up running in Salmon Arm years ago when he was in high school, but only got back into it about three years ago. This year he upped his training in the eight weeks prior to the race, crediting it for the win – a win he wasn’t expecting.
“I’d have to say my hard training. I have to give a lot of thanks to my family for putting up with me… There were lots of long days and nights where I didn’t get off the treadmill till 10 o’clock at night, but they stuck with me and supported me the whole way.”
He said he took the lead in the first five kilometres and stayed there, but lost his pace around the 17-kilometre mark. When one man began gaining on him, Mead picked up the pace.
“After holding the lead for that long, you don’t want to give it up, so you give it your all and he couldn’t keep up in the end.”
After the race Mead was a bit sore, but not bad.
“I went for a 12-k run this morning,” he said Monday, “just to loosen things up and keep active. I’m a little sore but I did pretty good.”
