Janelle Brcic completed the fourth annual Leading Edge RunWild marathon with a faster time than anticipated.
“I was surprised. I was expecting to see 3:30 on that finish clock,” Brcic said of her showing of three hours, 12 minutes and 24 seconds for fifth place overall as the top female in Sunday’s race.
It was also a personal best for the Father Jan school kindergarten teacher, surpassing her 2012 mark of 3:21:01 for seventh place as the fastest female.
Last year Brcic aggravated a left ankle injury, forcing her to pull out on the eve of the RunWild marathon.
“I didn’t race at all last year,” said the fourth-fastest female at the inaugural 2011 RunWild at 3:39:43 for 21st place. “I had no expectations this year because I didn’t feel as prepared as I should’ve been. I didn’t train as hard as I should’ve so I just went out there to have a good time.
“I love running so I just ran.”
Brcic, 29, willed her way to the finish line despite some agonizing moments.
“I was labouring the whole way. It was pure guts that got me through it,” she said. “My calves seized up and I was sick a couple of times where I had a little throw-up feeling but I managed to get through that.”
Brcic was the lead female runner basically from the start.
Andrea Danielle Bourgeois was the female runner-up at 3:29:51 for 11th place and Amy Burdis followed at 3:40:20 for 12th place.
Thirty-one females out of 76 finishers went the distance.
“I just kept waiting for someone to pass me but no one did so I was lucky,” Brcic said.
The bitter cold and windy conditions didn’t slow down Brcic on the challenging 42-kilometre course.
“I was OK. I just changed my clothing plans at the last minute but we live in Alberta so you take it as it comes.”
After crossing the finish line Brcic soaked up limelight in victory lane while surrounded by a throng of supporters.
“This is huge. St. Albert is my city. I work here and live here,” said the Ecole Secondaire Saint Marguerite d’Youville alumna. “It’s just such a great community-building event and they (Leading Edge Physiotherapy) organize it so well and that’s really the important thing.”
