News item:
As she lined up to start Newfoundland’s annual 20-kilometre Cape to Cabot race Sunday, 85-year-old Florence Barron might have been underestimated by some of her competitors. But after an agonizing run up and down the tallest, steepest hills in St. John’s, N.L., Barron had left nearly a third of the field in her dust.
Barron completed her 10th edition of the race in two hours and 10 minutes, shaving a full minute off her time from last year. She was the 267th runner to cross the finish line after a 150-metre climb to the top of Signal Hill overlooking St. John’s harbour, and was the only competitor in her 80-plus age category.
I’ve never done long-distance running, but I’ve climbed Signal Hill and Cape Spear at walking paces. They’re a tough slog.
Signal Hill from across the Narrows:
And the view down from Signal Hill:
(If I’ve got my geography right, that little spit on the horizon directly above the cannon is Cape Spear, where the race starts.)
Love the photos! St. John’s is a great place; many fond memories brought back by these pictures. Walked to Signal Hill a few times, and as you say, it’s a slog. Luckily the trip down is easier, with pubs galore at journey’s end.
That could be the civic motto of St. John’s.
I like the way your mind works! It’s changed a lot since I did my PhD there 30+ (gulp!) years ago, but 'tis a grand place, my son!
I’ve been there three different times over the years, and every trip has been just marvellous.
And while we’re on the topic of old, fit, Canadians:
A 99-year-old Hamilton man climbed 1,776 steps to the top of the CN Tower over the weekend, his third time pulling off the accomplishment in support of charity.
Walter Decker was joined by his son, grandson and two great-grandsons at the United Way ClimbUP on Saturday, where he raised more than $3,000 for people struggling to meet basic needs from housing and food to mental health supports.
Decker, who turned 99 last week, said he first began stair climbing more than 10 years ago as a distraction from his grief after his wife passed away, which he said made him “lost.”
