Terrace Review — Wednesday, February 27, 1991 BS

— _ | Northwest |
|Harrison |

ymnasti

Registration  lareliable
Spring __| competitor

Contributed by Ed Ansems
From B.C. Athletics Record
Jan.-Feb. edition

The running clubs in the
Northwest take a break at this
time of the year to gather their
thoughts and energies in prep-
aration for the next year’s ac-
tivities. As a result, I do not
have any races to report. Our
first runs of the season start in
early spring, just as the snow has
melted from our highways.
Since writing my article on
Sue Simpson in an earlier report, 7
I’ve been eager to compile
another profile. One of the most
outstanding runners of our
region is a 33-year-old man from
Smithers. Richard (Dick) Har-
rison became involved in run-
ning in 1978 and has now pro-
gressed to the point where he
seldom loses:a race. He has been
competing in distances from
1500 to the marathon for years,
and he has been extremely suc-
cessful at whatever distance he |
has chosen. ?
I first met Dick in 1983 at our ;
King of the Mountain Footrace.
~That’s the Skeena Valley Run- |
ners’ Club annual 8-K mountain \
trail race held in late July. Dick,
during our interview, was quick
to point out that winning that
race was one of the most
memorable victories in his run-
ning career. Since then, he has
gone on to win this event a rec-
ord seven times — with no one
in sight of this record.
Dick started running in 1978
with two objectives in mind. The
major consideration was to
become more physically pre-
pared to play hockey, but also in
the back of his mind was a desire
to take part in the Smithers
BGA TS a? Fe . Marathon. (A few of you may
ee wit ei te not have heard of this event. But
éé G es ti = PE AK E = | oT don’t panic! You're not alone.)
| With no background of running
7 ymnas ICS IS a Xperience: in high school, he started train-
ing on his own. Then, along with
a record 30 or so area residents,

: | | he took up the chall f pav-
WHERE: _ Clarence Michiel School Gym oo He ee an
WHEN:  . §atur day, March 2nd on to win this event two of the

four years it was held.
Now that the marathon bug
was firmly set in his mind, .he
PROGRAMS: {1 Parent & Tot (3-4 years) entered a number of these
a events. In an attempt to qualify
a 2 Pre-school (4-5 years) for Boston, he competed in, Van- .
+ 3 Red, White, & Blue Badges
°F 4 Achievement; Merit, Bronze, Silver
:  & Gold Badges ES
| INFORMATION: Pat McRoberts, 638-1109

*

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couver and Victoria, and his best
time for the distance came in
1986 when he ran 2:29:45 for a
third place in Victoria, New
York was completed, even
though the weather and humidi-
ty should have dictated a
cancellation of that event. While
on holidays in Europe, he ran.
the Dublin Marathon along with 4
11,000 other runners. Boston

» a | an | and Portland were also tackled.
Terrace Peaks Gymnastics Club Being from a small town, the
experience of a Boston or New
York run is not easily forgotten.
The starts of these races were
. | re . | , — Continued on page B6

ee pe a rare em mr Writ ae

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