People from all over came to cheer, whistle, and participate in the eighth annual Lighthouse Relay.
Eleven teams of runners from Port aux Basques, Nova Scotia, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Book, Bay St. George, and Stephenville competed in the race on Aug 14.
They started off the night before with a meet and greet, along with a pasta dinner rich in carbohydrates.
It was a warm, beautiful day for the race - almost too warm for the runners at times. In addition to last year’s teams, two new teams entered the race: The Slackers from Port aux Basques, and Twin Peaks from Corner Brook.
The Race to the Sea first began in 2003, promoting the lighthouses and communities found along the race’s shore. Many beautiful sites are seen along the coast such as beaches, lush green scenery, and the lighthouses themselves.
“The Annual Lighthouse Relay, Race to the Sea is an amazing experience which promotes not only tourism but also healthy living and exercise,” said
Chantelle MacIsaac, this year’s coordinator of the Race of the Sea. “We definitely encourage all people, of all ages to participate in the event, even as a volunteer. The race is very successful and everyone involved very much so enjoys their experience.”
The race started at 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Starting at the Cape Anguille Lighthouse, runners went thought the Codroy Valley to the Cape Ray Lighthouse, along to the Channel Head Lighthouse and then finally down Route 470 to the Rose Blanche lighthouse.
There were a total of 11 legs. The teams ran a total of 110 km along the coast with each runner participating in a different leg of the race.
The times were recorded and tallied up for each team as they crossed the finish line of each leg. At the end the times were added together and the winner was determined.
When times were tallied up, The Bay St. George Bullets came out on top with a total race time of 8 hours, 37 minutes and 15 seconds. Blomidon Athletics from the Bay of Islands came second with 9 hours, 2 minutes and 49 seconds. The Exploit Valley Road Runners were third with a time of 9 hours, 30 minutes and 15 seconds.
Dean Alyward of the Credit Union Tyros smashed the old record of the final leg of the race. He ran from Grandy’s River Collegiate to the Rose Blanche Lighthouse in 58 minutes and 13 seconds, a full minute and 15 seconds off the old record.
“I was hoping to do it in 54 or 55 minutes but it was too darn hot,” said Alyward.
Records are kept on each leg of the race for the fastest man and woman.
Other record breakers included Katherine Cochrane of Twin Peaks on leg 3, Robin Meyster of Over the Hill Gang on leg 5, Rob Curnew of the Bay St. George Bullets on leg 8, and Gail Simms from the Credit Union Tyros on leg 8.
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