It's become a tradition for the Lennert family to come first.
Carla Lennert of Terrace strode to the gold medal Sunday in the women's portion of the Prince George Mad Moose Marathon, finishing the 42 kilometres in 4:10:42 (hour, minute, second) at the Otway Ski Centre.
"I wasn't sure what the competition would be like because I don't run in Prince George normally," said Lennert, after edging Jamie Lazar by one minute. "I'm pleasantly surprised."
Lazar was the defending champion, having won the women's race last year.
It could be said the 31-year-old runner was just keeping the tradition her daughter Maelle set when she was born Jan. 1 - the first 2011 baby in Terrace.
"I guess we like to be at the front of the pack," said Lennert.
Six weeks after her daughter was born, Lennert said she returned to running.
Mad Moose is the second marathon Lennert has completed, but, like Ian McIlvenna - the men's 42-kilometre winner - it was the first time she competed in the Prince George event.
"It's a tough climb to UNBC, but on the way back it's a little easier - lots of mud, but really nice," said Lennert. "It was perfect conditions."
It was a sprint to the finish line for the top three of the 81 half marathoners, separated by 33 seconds.
Shar Jackson - fresh from capturing the Labour Day Classic title a few weeks ago - beat out her male competitors to place first overall in the half marathon (21 kilometres) in 1:36:15. Damien Furlong trailed six seconds behind, while Michael Jordan came third with a time of 1:36:48.
"I really didn't think I'd catch them, but with about a kilometre and a half to go, I could see them just ahead of me and figured I'd try," said Jackson, 28. "[After that] I was really just trying to keep going and not let them pass me again."
The half marathon course record, set last year by Brian Nemathy, is 1:27:45.
The Jackson said it was a good tune up for when she runs the Okanagan Marathon in Kelonwa on Oct. 10.
"It just gets the legs moving faster in a longer period of time," she said. "It's just good training."
