Triumphant return for the Cedar 12K
and winners Logan Roots and Meg Lewis-Schneider

The Cedar 12K road race made a triumphant return to the streets of Cedar, BC on Sunday. The Bastion Run Club-organized race had a two-year pandemic break and was back with its largest field in a decade with 432 finishers, the sixth most in the race’s 31-year history.

Meanwhile, winners Logan Roots and Meg Lewis-Schneider returned to the Vancouver Island Race Series in triumphant fashion winning in the times of 38:56 and 43:57, respectively.

Roots started with a few competitors but left them after 1K. He built a lead that he kept it from gun to tape. It was a course and distance personal best for the Courtenay-based member of Esprit RC.

“That [race] went better than expected. I didn’t really have a plan or a goal besides going out hard enough to regret how hard I went out and overall that went well,” shared the Canadian military member. “I still had the marathon in my legs today.”

Roots ran the Houston Marathon in January and will be racing the Sooke 10K in two weeks time.

Finishing in second place was Cole Czuchnicki in the time of 42:05. Taking third and first master was Keith Mills who clocked a new personal best of 42:27.

Lewis-Schneider finished first woman and ninth overall. In 2023, she was going to take a hiatus from racing, however, went to cheer on fellow Esprit RC members during the Harriers Pioneer 8K — the first race of the series (Sun., Jan 8). She subsequently signed up for the series, wishing she was in that race. 

Lewis -Schneider won her previous Island Series race one year ago taking the Cobble Hill 10K in 35:37.

“I started training in mid-January, so today was really just a starting point. I am going to do the rest of the series, but I had no expectations, so, I am pleased with the result,” shared Lewis-Schneider.

Taking second place was Briana Brandon with her 46:32 finish time. Natasha Parsons took third in the time of 46:51. The first master was Lucy Smith (55-59) in the time of 48:09.

The next race in the Vancouver Island Race Series takes place Sunday, February 26 in Sooke at the Westcoast Running Sooke 10K.

Information about the race series is available at www.islandseries.org.