Race walkers conquer Canadian race

Sisters is home to many walkers - strollers, hikers and not a few race walkers. Recently, a group of dedicated striders hoofed it in Canada, in a race that drew thousands.

On October 11, 10 members of the Sisters, Oregon racewalking team The Bookin' Babes, completed the Royal Victoria half marathon in Victoria, B.C.

This year was the 30th anniversary of the Royal Victoria marathon; the eighth for the half. There were 5,400 participants in the 2009 half marathon.

The Bookin' Babes who completed the half were Grace Walsh, Donna Carter, Bunny Thompson, Chris Brophy, Linda Bafford, Susie Smith, Kim Addison, Nadean Murray, Susan Tank, and Portland resident and racewalk instructor, Judy Heller.

Joining the Bookin' Babes were Lynn Stimson and Denise Giard of Albany, members of the Bookin' Babes' former arch rival walking team, the WeBe Walkabout Masters, who also have a home here in Sisters.

Times for the half marathon ranged from 2:37 for Kim Addison to 3:09 for Nadean Murray.

A surprise for the team was the appearance of former Sisters resident and Bookin' Babes team member, Marcia Plows, who met up with the group the day before the race. Plows, who lives on Little Henry Island in the San Juans with her husband, Dick, acted as both one-woman support crew and cheering section for her former teammates.

Plows, Addison and Tank have journeyed to Victoria for the half marathon or the 8K race since 2002; Murray since 2003. Heller joined the gang in 2006 and again this year.

The race this year had particular significance for both Murray and Tank. Nadean completed her final round of chemotherapy for breast cancer on September 15. She trained as she could during the months of her chemotherapy. Her oncologist wasn't so sure she would finish the race, but finish she did, and she finished strong.

Tank completed her first half marathon in two years, and the first on her new hips.