Edmonton 10K: wind, donuts, and post-race yoga

https://www.instagram.com/p/Blkzip5FRHr/?tagged=edmonton10k

It was a windy day in Edmonton for the inaugural Edmonton 10K yesterday, but nobody seemed to mind, once handed their finisher’s medal on a colourful ribbon and a sprinkle donut in its own special box emblazoned with “It’s time to party! #Edmonton10K.”

RELATED: Running and mental health linked for Toronto Waterfront 10K charity partner

More than 4,000 runners participated in the race, which started and finished at the Alberta Legislature, following a route that took it across the North Saskatchewan River and along the northern edge of the University of Alberta campus before winding through the Windsor Park neighbourhood and back across the river to the finish line.

In a brand-new race that attracted the “cream” of Canadian distance running, Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, Ont. and Leslie Sexton of London, Ont. were the first to break the tape. Coolsaet’s winning time was 30:07 and Sexton crossed the finish line at 34:06.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Blih6glljsi/?taken-by=reidcoolsaet

Toronto’s Sasha Gollish of Toronto was second in the women’s race, in 34:35, and Dayna Pidhoresky of  Vancouver third, in 35:04. In the men’s race, Evan Esselink of Guelph, Ont. was second, in 30:20, and Trevor Hofbauer of Calgary third, in 30:27.

It was Coolsaet’s eighth win in eight races since his ninth-place finish at this year’s Boston Marathon. The “five weeks ago” he refers to in an Instagram post was the corresponding Canada Running Series 10K in Toronto, the Waterfront 10K. Both races are sponsored by Lululemon. 

As you can see in the picture, I was pretty happy to the win today at the @RunCRSWest Edmonton 10k! Awesome event today! We are back rolling, time for some marathon training…#RunYourWorld @SauconyCanada pic.twitter.com/sPX2MrZsK3

— Leslie Sexton (@LeslieSexton) July 23, 2018

The Lululemon crew-neck race shirt was a creamy white, and, as in Toronto, the post-race party included a free outdoor yoga session and a joyful, celebratory and highly Instagram-worthy vibe. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BljXncYD3-j/?tagged=edmonton10k

Coolsaet will be racing the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 21.