Canada’s Ailsa MacDonald conquers San Francisco hills in Rock ‘n’ Roll win
Canadian and St. Albert, Alta. resident Ailsa MacDonald, 35, won the San Francisco Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon on Sunday morning.
A Canadian prevailed in the women’s half-marathon at San Francisco’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half on Sunday morning in northern California. St. Albert, Alta.’s Ailsa MacDonald ran 1:22:14 and was five minutes clear of the next closest competitor.
The endurance athlete who also dabbles in Olympic-distance triathlons used the race as a tune-up for the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most popular 42.2K events, on April 18. She’s in the midst of a breakout year after smashing her personal best and racing to a 2:44:56 clocking at January’s Houston Marathon.
She told Competitor that she’s aiming to run between 2:42 and 2:44 in Boston, which would put her on track to finish near the top of her age category and potentially finish as the top Canadian woman. That time is well within her wheelhouse given her Houston performance this past winter.
On Sunday, MacDonald passed 5K in 18:44, 10 miles (16K) in 1:02:21 before finishing in 1:22:14. The course is typical of hilly San Francisco as runners began their race on the western side of the city, did an out-and-back on the Golden Gate Bridge before finishing downtown.
It’s a point-to-point course meaning that the start line and finish line are located a considerable distance apart.
MacDonald has won other big races in the past including the Edmonton Marathon and Red Rock Canyon Marathon as well as finishing as the top Canadian at the Los Angeles Marathon in 2013.
Another half marathon done! next up Boston!!! 2 weeks out!
Posted by Ailsa MacDonald on Sunday, April 3, 2016
Over 9,000 runners began the San Francisco Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon, which is part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll series, a large circuit of events that take place throughout the year in North America and in Europe. Montreal and Vancouver are the only two Canadian stops on tour.
The series is known for its post-race concerts, lively crowds and party-like atmosphere, which is evident in the below video:
Thank you to the volunteers, spectators, and participants who ROCKED the @Transamerica #RnRSF! pic.twitter.com/sWxEzOu9NU
— Rock n Roll Marathon (@RunRocknRoll) April 3, 2016
Top-3 women’s results
1. Ailsa MacDonald, St. Albert, Alta. – 1:22:14
2. Morgan Larson, Waseca, Minn. – 1:27:12
3. Janet Mulvey, Sunnyvale, Calif. – 1:27:45
Top-3 men’s results
1. Jonathan Varela Obando, Costa Rica – 1:14:14
2. Tyler Wasieleski, Union City, Calif. – 1:16:32
3. Ben Goldman, Monte Sereno, Calif. – 1:20:09
Canadians have been doing well at various stops on the Rock ‘n’ Roll tour recently including Meggan Franks winning the New Orleans Marathon in February. On that occasion, race officials accidentally handed her an American flag to celebrate with resulting in a light-hearted finish line moment.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
