Calgary runner Maria Zambrano sets Canadian record at half marathon in Victoria
Calgary runner Maria Zambrano set a new Canadian record for women aged 50-59 at the Royal Victoria Half Marathon Sunday. (Photo courtesy Steven Tober)
CALGARY -
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)
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