Calgary runner Maria Zambrano sets Canadian record at half marathon in Victoria
Calgary runner Maria Zambrano set a new Canadian women's record Sunday.
Zambrano ran the Royal Victoria Half Marathon in 1:18:16, besting the previous time for women aged 50-54 by 1:38 seconds.
In an interview with CTV News, Zambrano said the combination of a long lead time, sea-level race and a great atmosphere made Victoria a record-breaker for her.
"Since I registered for the race back in June, I had the idea that it was possible to break the record in Victoria," she said in an email. "I knew the course because I ran it in 2016 and being at sea level, I felt I had a better chance to make it happen. Also, I ran the Calgary half marathon Sept 19 (I ran 1:20:05) and it gave me confidence that I could beat the record."
"When I started the race in Victoria, I started to push the pace from the beginning and it was great to have other people to run with," she added. "I was happily surprised to see the clock as I approached the finish line showing 1:18. Because I didn't look at my watch during the race, I just ran how I felt, having done the training to know the feel of the pace I should be running."
That prompted a series of congratulatory comments on the Facebook page of the Calgary Roadrunners Club, as Zambrano is also a regular participant and two-time winner of the Calgary Marathon (in 2000 and 2014).
"Congratulations Maria Zambrano, smashing the women's Canadian 50 -54 age group record for the Half Marathon in Victoria this morning," said a commenter from Gord's Running Store. "Running 1:18:16 dropping the previous record by 1:38 seconds. IMPRESSIVE RUNNING."
Sunday was also Zambrano's 51st birthday. The record-setting time added to an impressive year for Zambrano: she has set two Alberta and two Canadian running records in 2021.
Road racing has played another significant role in Zambrano's life: according to an article in Impact Magazine, she met her husband Steven Tober at a race in Colombia.
Thousands of runners participated Sunday in Victoria, running in both the half-marathon and the 8K, which kicked off at staggered start times to make for a safer gathering.
Calgary runner Maria Zambrano set a new Canadian record for women aged 50-59 at the Royal Victoria Half Marathon Sunday (File photo courtesy Twitter/RoyalVictoriaMarathon)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Six Canadian children repatriated from detention in Syria, Global Affairs Canada says
The Global Affairs Department says six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
TikTok, ByteDance sue to block U.S. law seeking sale or ban of app
TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance said on Tuesday they filed suit in U.S. federal court seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force the divestiture of the short video app used by 170 million Americans or ban its use.