Squamish represents at Vancouver Marathon

Tim Moore/Special to the Chief

Margreet Dietz catches her breath after completing the Vancouver Marathon three hours 10 minutes 19 seconds on May 2. The time earned her second place in the female 35-39 category.

Squamish runners pounded the pavement for the 38th annual Vancouver Marathon on May 3, including a local woman who placed second in her division and 100th overall amongst nearly 3,000 participants.

Margreet Dietz, 38, was the ninth female to complete the 42-kilometre race, which was her 10th career standalone marathon (she’s also competed in five Ironman Triathlons, the gruelling test of endurance that ends with a 42-kilometre run).

Dietz finished the marathon with a time of three hours, 10 minutes 19 seconds. And although she missed the personal best time she earned at the Victoria Marathon in October by more than three minutes (3:07:10), she said she was still pleased with her achievement.

“It’s kind of funny how you can get so fixated on a time goal that you have in your mind that you kind of lose sight of the bigger picture,” she said, adding that last year she focused too much on the clock throughout the Vancouver Marathon.

“This year I actually felt great and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed being in tune with my body and feeling comfortably uncomfortable, if that makes any sense.”

With all the excitement in the air at the start line it can be tempting to run too fast in the beginning. But Dietz was careful to take it easy for the first 5 km before settling into her pace. That way, she was able to get warmed up, relaxed and mentally focused, she said.

“You start in your head and work your way down through your body,” she said, adding that her ultimate goal is to finish a marathon in less than three hours.

Originally from The Netherlands, Dietz lived in Australia before moving to Squamish in September. She and partner Tim Moore, who is currently training for Ironman Canada, are starting to explore the running trails around town. They are hoping to have more time once their new dog, recently adopted from the local SPCA, gets a bit bigger.

“I imagine he’ll be happy to go for a run because he seems to have more energy than a marathon runner and a triathlete combined,” she said with a laugh.

A number of other locals took part in the full and half marathons. Alison Abell was the 55th female to complete the full marathon, placing 13th in the Female 35-39 division and 391st overall with a time of three hours 33 minutes three seconds.

It was Abell’s second Vancouver Marathon so she felt less anxious and could better absorb the energetic atmosphere, she said.

“That’s why I like doing races, because the mood that is given off is contagious. People are very positive and happy and motivated so it’s really exciting to be around all of that energy,” she said.

Other marathon competitors included Duncan McPhie, Derek Gagne and Shannon McLeod.

In the half marathon, Declan Wolfe recorded a time of one hour 26 minutes 24 seconds, while Jason Ross and Trevor Lowe finished in just over one hour 30 minutes. Emma Seguss, Natalie Edwards, Jennifer Thompson and Ciara McLoughlin also completed the half marathon.

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