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Jeff Symonds to run Pioneer 8K on Sunday

January 9, 2016
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Credit: @JefferySymonds
Credit: @JefferySymonds

Triathlon’s Jeff Symonds is among some of Canada’s greatest runners to race in the Harriers Pioneer 8K on Sunday, one of winter’s most competitive road races in Saanichton, B.C. Sunday’s event is the first of 12 races as part of the BC Super Series and the opening event in the Vancouver Island Race Series. For triathletes interested in working on their running before race season, events like these are great to test where your fitness is at right now and strategize your upcoming training.

The race begins at 11 a.m. local time.

Canada’s 10,000 m record holder, Natasha Wodak, is among “one of the best men’s and women’s fields ever assembled at [the] Pioneer [8K] in 37 years and it will be a super kick-off to the new BC Super Series,” says High Performance Director, Bob Reid.

Dylan Wykes, the third fastest Canadian marathoner of all time, is one of the favourites on the men’s side. The race will also feature Canadian beer mile extraordinaire Jim Finlayson, who competed at the Flotrack Beer Mile World Championships in Austin, Texas in December.

The men’s course record, 22:58 set by Canadian Olympian Carey Nelson, has withstood the test of time, to the tune of 31 years (1985).

Wodak is the women’s course record holder having run 25:28 in 2013, a time that shocked the running community becoming the fastest Canadian women in history over the 8K distance.

Jeff Symonds is not alone as a pro triathlete to race local running events every so often. Kirsten Sweetland won the Vancouver Seawheeze Half Marathon last year and Paula Findlay won Toronto’s Nike Women’s 15K, proving our sport has some talented runners capable of competing with the best.