Charles Bedley runs 2:16:26

Just two months after winning the Toronto Marathon in 2:21, Charles Bedley, my speedy former training buddy, ran the California International Marathon yesterday in 2:16:26. That's a PB by five minutes, and if I'm not mistaken, it also makes him the fastest Canadian marathoner of the year, ahead of Jerry Ziak's 2:17.

The CIM in Sacramento is not the flattest, fastest course, so I think we may see an even faster time from Charlie next year. About five years ago, Charlie told me in his usual deadpan serious tone that he planned to qualify for the Olympics. I wouldn't put it past him.

Here's a video of the race finish from the local TV station. There's an interview with Charlie three minutes in.

Fit friends: Tara's triumph

On the same day my friend Charles Bedley won the Toronto Marathon, Tara Norton, a childhood friend and pro triathlete, placed 12th in the Hawaii Ironman. Her time of 9:41 was a huge PB under sweltering conditions in Kona. Simply amazing.

From Tara's website:

October 13, 2007 - Ironman World Championship - On one of the hottest race days on record in Hawaii, Tara finished 12th overall in a time of 9:41:03. Tara's 5:11:15 bike split propelled her from 28th after the swim to 9th place at the start of the run. Over the course of the marathon there were many positional changes amongst the top-15 women. Tara is thrilled with her best Hawaii finish to date and will report more in her "Thoughts" shortly.

Charles Bedley wins 2007 Toronto Marathon

Wow! My old training partner Charles Bedley just won the 2007 Toronto Marathon (the one that's not the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon) in a blistering time of 2:21:58. It looks like Bedley and Edmonton's Matthew Norminton flew through the half in 1:08 and Charlie hung on for the win.

This is the same race that I won in 2002, so each of us has taken the crown, only he was almost nine minutes faster.

Way to go, Charlie!