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T2T 2017 – Run for Jaylund

Xuuya Daagwiiyas “Strong Raven” — of the Clan Kaadaas GaaK’iiguwaay.

This year the Totem to Totem Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km Run will be held as a separate event from Skidegate Days. Skidegate Days will be held the weekend of July 8. Totem to Totem will be held on July 15.
On Sunday, July 16, the Skidegate Community will support the Russ family at an “End of Mourning Ceremony” for Jaylund Russ. Jaylund died last spring. His birthday was July 16. He would have been 19 this year. Jaylund was born and raised on Haida Gwaii. He played soccer and basketball with the Skidegate Saints and was an active young man in the community, committed to his family and his friends. He was the type person the Totem to Totem organization seeks to inspire and be inspired by in return.
With the ceremony taking place, there will be a few changes to the T2T event this year. There will be no walk to breakfast. The village will not be in the process of holding Skidegate Days – everyone can run through more easily – so there may be a few faster times. We are also planning some new post-race events. As the plans come together, we will post updates on our website.

T2T wishes to dedicate this year’s event to Jaylund. Come Run Haida Gwaii. Come Run for Jaylund!

Thanks – Howa’a

Sponsors & Supporters

Our event could not happen without the ongoing support of local organizations. Totem to Totem organizers wish to thank the organizations which help support T2T.
The ongoing support of Robert Davidson and Eagle of the Dawn Artists Ltd is deeply and sincerely appreciated by the organizers and the runners.

  • Thanks to James Sawyer of Old Massett, who carved this year’s winners’ medals;
  • the BC Ambulance Service;
  • the RCMP;
  • the Skidegate Band Council;
  • the Skidegate Health Centre;
  • Gwaalaagaa naay;
  • O’Brien Road & Bridge;
  • the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure; and
  • The Running Room.

Amazing Volunteers

Our event could not happen without our incredible volunteers. A very big thank you – Howa’a – to all the volunteers who came out. We know that this event could not happen without their contribution. The participation was nearly double from last year and the volunteers were there to help support the runners. The contribution of the volunteers was noted by several of the runners after the event. Thanks to the teams at Balance Rock, Miller Creek, Jungle Beach, St. Mary’s Spring and the Finish Line. In particular, our Finish Line cheerleader extra-ordinaire – Sue Gladstone – who cheered-in every one of the 154 walkers and runners.

2016 Totem to Totem Haida Marathon – 10th Anniversary!

2016 marked the 10th Anniversary of Totem to Totem and it was quite the celebration. Records fell in the Women’s 10km, the Women’s half-marathon and the Women’s marathon. A new record was also set in the men’s half-marathon, which had an exciting tie for first place. The overall winner in the 2016 marathon was a woman. We had more registrants than ever before, more than 170. A total 154
participants for our three events came to the start line and every one who came out to walk or run crossed the finish line.
No party is complete without special guests. Olympic gold medalist Clara Hughes and her husband Peter Guzman, who were visiting Haida Gwaii, came out to volunteer added to the celebration of the day. Clara and Peter came out to volunteer. Mr. Guzman cycled part of the race course, inspiring the runners, while Clara Hughes, after helping with race preparation, walked the 10 km with May Russ of
Old Massett and then welcomed runners at the finish line, handing out the beautiful Robert Davidson medals. She also made the presentations to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each event. Robert Davidson, whose ongoing support for T2T is deeply appreciated. was also on hand. Mr. Davidson ran the 10 km event again this year.
Besides the event records, there were many personal bests on the day and as always the local component of the race was evident with friends and families coming out to participate, run their events and have fun. Congratulations to everyone!

Record Breaking 10th Anniversary!

2016 Totem to Totem Haida Marathon

Records fell at the 10th running of the Totem to Totem Marathon held on July 16th at Skidegate. Special guests Olympic gold medalist Clara Hughes and her husband Peter Guzman added to the celebration of the day. Clara and Peter came out to volunteer. Mr. Guzman cycled part of the race course, inspiring the runners, while Clara Hughes, after helping with race preparation, walked the 10 km with May Russ of Old Massett and then welcomed runners at the finish line, handing out the beautiful Robert Davidson medals. She also made the presentations to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each event.

Neil Foster of Vancouver, Olympic Gold Medalist Clara Hughes and Brandin Lilgert of Rossland.

T2T set a new record for participants with more than 170 registrants and 154 runners who came out to run. The 10K run is definitely the most popular – 65 women and 24 men ran the 10K; 101 had registered to run to Balance Rock and back. In the Half-Marathon, 38 women and 13 men completed the 21.1 km course; 55 runners had registered to run. In the Marathon 14 of the 15 registrants showed up to run the 42.2 km out to St. Mary’s Spring and back. Everyone who came out to run or walk finished their respective events.
The weather conditions were pretty much ideal, with temperatures hovering in the high teens and an overcast sky. Records were set in four events. Laura Giudice, a 14 year old runner visiting from Switzerland, ran the 10 Km race in 39:31, setting a new record for the women, taking more than 5 minutes off the previous best time. Stephen Ptucha of Richmond and Paul McNamara of Vancouver,
tied for first place in the men’s Half-Marathon and set a new record of 1:18:39. Susan Gelinas, also of Richmond, won the women’s event, setting a new record time of 1:35:20. In the Marathon, Elena Cigala-Fulgosi, of Nelson, won the event overall, knocking more than 8 minutes off the previous best time for women, coming in at 3:20:19. Ms. Cigala-Fulgosi was so excited with her finishing time she
was literally jumping for joy after running 42.2 km.

Elena Cigala-Fulgosi, of Nelson

James Thompson of Old Massett

Annika Makinen, visiting from Finland, finished second in the women’s marathon with a time of 4:05:53. While Carrie Vanderhoop of Masset moved up from the half marathon to the full marathon, finishing third with a time of 4:39:35.
The winner in the men’s Marathon was Neil Foster of Vancouver, with a time of 3:34:50, five minutes faster than his second place finish in 2015. Chris Taylor, from Brooklyn, who came second in the 2014 Marathon, placed second again with a time of 3:45:36. Third place went to Brandin Lilgert of Rossland, with a time of 3:49:45. The notable fourth place finisher was James Thompson of Old Massett who finished this year’s marathon with a sub-four hour time, coming in at 3:55:12, taking 20 minutes off his 2015 time. An excellent accomplishment!
In the women’s Half-Marathon, Sarah Peters, from Ontario, and Sarah Adams, from Port Clements, rounded out the top three women, finishing second and third with times of 1:39:40 and 1:44:02 respectively. Patrick Robinson of Victoria and Max Erwin from Masset finished second and third in the men’s half-marathon, with respective times of 1:25:30 and 1:26:48.
The men’s 10 Km event was won by Georg Koszuilinski of Seattle with a time of 38:44, David DePasquale of Nanaimo was second at 39:40, while James Hiebert, last year’s Half-Marathon winner, finished third with a time of 50:09. Keri Fezzey of Coupeville, Washington took second place in the women’s 10 Km with a time of 44:49 and Jenn Dysart took third with a time of 44:58.

David DePasquale of Nanaimo, Georg Koszuilinski of Seattle, Laura Giudice of Switzerland

It was an exciting day. Besides the event records, there were many personal bests on the day and as always the local component of the race was evident with friends and families coming out to participate, run their events and have fun. The runners were surprised and delighted to receive their medals from Olympic gold medalist Clara Hughes. Ms. Hughes greeted everyone with a smile and happily posed for pictures with the participants and their friends and family.
The Totem to Totem organizers wish to thank to the people and organizations which help support the event. The ongoing support of Robert Davidson and Eagle of the Dawn Artists Ltd is deeply and sincerely appreciated by the organizers and the runners. Thanks to James Sawyer of Old Masset, who carved this year’s winners’ medals, the BC Ambulance Service, the RCMP, the Skidegate Band Council, the Skidegate Health Centre, Gwaalaagaa naay, O’Brien Road & Bridge, the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and The Running Room.

Patrick Robinson, Sarah Peters, Stephen Ptucha, Susan Gelinas & Paul McNamara

A very big thank you to all the volunteers who came out. The organizers know that this event could not happen without their contribution. The participation was nearly double from last year and the volunteers were there to help support the runners. Last, but not least, a very special Howa’a to Peter Guzman and Clara Hughes. Their presence helped make the 10th Anniversary of Totem to Totem even more special. The event organizers could not have imagined a better way to celebrate 10 years of the Totem to Totem Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10 K event. They look forward to this destination run continuing to grow.
(Article published in the Haida Gwaii Observer, August 5, 2016. Additional pictures from Totem to Totem.)

 

T2T 2015 – Coming in Hot!

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T2T 2015 Race - 171 T2T 2015 is behind us now. Like each year, this race was memorable for what made it unique. And in 2015 it was the heat. Although our event is held in the middle of July, the temperatures are usually quite moderate. Not so in 2015. Haida Gwaii, like most of BC, was in the midst of a heat wave. As our wonderful cheerleader stood at the finish line cheering on the runners and shouting out “COMING IN HOT!” She was not just talking about the speed of the runners. Many runners, especially in the half and full marathons felt the heat of the day as temperatures got up to the mid-twenties. A couple had to drop out – one stopped for coffee and decided that was enough.
T2T 2015 Race - 020Despite the heat, we still had a new record for the Women’s 10km and several runners had personal bests. In 2015 we had three generations from one family taking part: mother, daughter, grand-daughter. The kids came to run! We had three young girls who each ran the 10km. That’s impressive – and maybe a challenge to the boys.
2015 will also be remembered for the T2T medal – a stunning design given by Robert Davidson. Every finisher in each race received this beautiful medal. And it will be around as a part of our event for many years to come.
T2T 2015 Race - 039Of course, what is impressive is how the community comes to support this run. We sincerely appreciate seeing the fathers and sons, sisters, husbands and wives and friends who come in July to Run Haida Gwaii. There cannot be enough said about the volunteers who come out on race day. The Finish Line Crew, who are there from beginning to end. The Balance Rock team who see every runner – the marathoners and half marathoners twice. The teams at Miller Creek, Jungle Beach and St, Mary’s Spring, the cyclists and the drivers – all of whom come out and make the event possible and safe for the ru
nners. And those behind the scenes, helping to organize. Your time and your effort is sincerely appreciated. Howa’a. We hope to see you in 2016.
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Thank you

I just wanted to thank all the race organizers and volunteers this year at the 2014 Totem To Totem Race. It was truly an experience worth every bit of effort required to prepare, and took place in one of the most beautiful corners of the world. Looking forward to next year!
Attached is a photo of me enjoying myself on the 20th km of the race. I’m looking forward to seeing the 2014 Photo gallery with all the other participants, organizers and volunteers when it is posted on the website.

Thanks again!
Warm regards