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Pair of masters runners win one of B.C.’s gems, the Whistler half-marathon

One of Canada's most scenic races, the Whistler half-marathon, along with the 5K and 10K, took place two hours north of Vancouver on Saturday morning.

Whistler half-marathon

British Columbia’s Whistler half-marathon showed why it’s one of Canada’s most scenic races on Saturday. The race, which takes place in Whistler village, about two hours north of Vancouver, is run on a challenging but beautiful course at the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

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Jim Finlayson, who got plenty of attention recently for running a beer 2-mile, won the half-marathon by nine minutes in 1:12:12. Marilyn Arsenault was the top woman in 1:25:40.

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The half-marathon course in particular is conducive to a negative split – running the second half of the race faster than the first half – because many of the race’s hills take place in the opening 10K. The route has a 250m total elevation gain.

RELATED: Victoria’s Jim Finlayson runs two miles, drinks eight beers in under 12 minutes.

Women took the top two overall spots in the 10K including winner Robyn Mildren, a former runner with the University of Guelph, who ran 39:04.

Standout trail and ultrarunner Catrin Jones, the reigning bronze medallist at the 50K world championships, finished second in the women’s 10K winner on Saturday morning. She holds both the half-marathon and 10K course records.

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In the 5K, David Jackson, the 10K and half-marathon course record holder, was the top men’s finisher in 15:48. Katie Engel was the top woman in 19:55.

Marilyn Arsenault, who ran a 2:40 marathon at 45, won the women’s half-marathon.

Beer mile extraordinare and national-class masters runner Jim Finlayson in the lead during the Whistler half-marathon on Saturday. He ended up winning.

Leader on the gruelling Blueberry Hill making it look easy. #runwhistler

A photo posted by Whistler Half Marathon (@whistlerhalf) on

Custom-made signs were a hit at the Whistler half-marathon.

A welcome sight on race morning.

Still running at 80.

Race medals.

Full results can be found via Raceday Timing Services.

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