2004-2005

News Release

REF NO.: 366

SUBJECT: Tackling the Tely 10: Team Memorial races this weekend

DATE: July 19, 2005

A record number of Team Memorial participants will lace up their shoes on Sunday for the 78th running of the Tely 10 Road Race – the largest of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

More than 120 members will proudly wear Memorial tee-shirts for the 16 kilometre race which begins at 8 a.m. in Paradise. This is the second year a Team Memorial group, consisting of staff, faculty and pensioners, plus their spouses and children, has taken part in the historic race. Last year, 81 participants were involved.

“We are very proud of all the people who’ve decided to run, walk or walk/run in the race,” said Peter Hynes, worklife programs co-ordinator with the Department of Human Resources at MemorialUniversity. “Our goal is to get people to challenge themselves and do their best to increase their fitness. We focus more on participation rather than competition.”

There are 30 first-time runners taking part in this year’s race. Supporters will have no trouble spotting the teammates who will be wearing either brightly-coloured lime green or white shirts.

Over the past 12-weeks, Team Memorial participants have been training for this year’s event. They’ve also taken part in a number of workshops co-ordinated by the Wellness Office in the Department of Human Resources including a session with alumnus and well-known St. John’s runner Chris Holden (B.Sc. ’96). Mr. Holden won the Tely 10 in 2004 and 2001.

“The Wellness Office has also offered tips on the basics of running, advice, words of encouragement and we’ve organized group runs,” added Mr. Hynes.

Participants such as Dr. Chris Deacon, laboratory co-ordinator with the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, will be training right up until race day. This year marks the 15th time Dr. Deacon will run in the race. “I do it because I want to have fun and keep fit and be active,” he said. “When I started I had a goal to just keeping doing the race; so far so good.”

Supporters are encouraged to come out to this year’s Tely 10 Road Race and cheer on Team Memorial on Sunday, July 24.

The race begins on McNamara Drive, just off Topsail Road, near the Paradise Community Centre, proceeds eastward on Topsail Road, CornwallAvenue, LeMarchant Road, HarveyRoad and Military Road, turning left onto Bannerman Road for the finish line.

Check out www.nlaa.ca/tely10/ for more race information.

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