VG Half Marathon record holder James Carr departs territory
Speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online prior to his departure for home in the United Kingdom, Mr Carr said he was leaving with wonderful memories especially from the road racing scene but hopes to visit the territory some day and maybe even enter a race.
The strongly built distance runner related how he became a regular in road racing in the Virgin Islands after participating in the Dive BVI Half Marathon in Virgin Gorda in 2012 where he surprisingly placed second.
He would then turn his attention to 10K distances and emerged the overall winner of the Ceres Juices 10K Series last year and then added the 2013 Blenheim Trust 5K Series title to his name.
Determined to win the VG Half Marathon, Mr Carr returned to the sister island on May 18, 2013 for the big race and was not only rewarded with a victory but also a record breaking time of 1:36:23.
Not surprisingly, Mr Carr says that race was one of his best races as he went to run hard and even though he was given a tough fight by eventual second place finisher Jacques Roux (1:36:39) he held on for the win. “Jacques was on my tail the whole time,” Mr Carr recalled.
The VG Half Marathon record holder admitted, however, that his favourite distance race is the 10K and noted that he ran quite a few while a resident of the Virgin Islands. “The 10K Series I think were my favourite ones and favourite distance although I am not too sure about the Carrot Bay 10k route with its steep hills,” Mr Carr joked.
His toughest race, he said, was on July 21, 2012 in the Ceres Juices 10K Series race at Beef Island when he ran neck and neck with Steve Asson throughout the race but finished second. “I think it was my quickest 10K then too so it was definitely my toughest race I did.” Asson won in 40: 38.51 while Carr clocked 41:39.50.
Carr also ran the Ogier/Deloitte 7th BVI Half Marathon on Tortola on November 17, 2012 and placed third behind race winner Shane DeGannes (1: 25.00) of the USVI and Virgin Gorda’s Maxford Pipe (1:36.36). Carr finished in 1:38.28.
His final race in the Virgin Islands, the HLSCC/Highland Spring Race Series on Tortola on October 12, 2013 was also his first two-mile race. “It was hot,” Mr Carr said of the race conditions after finishing sixth in 13:02.79.
Asked to give his thoughts on road racing in the Virgin Islands, Mr Carr said “for a small island it is very well organised” but noted that it could get much better if more people are encouraged to participate. “Just get training, get healthy and you will do better than you realise…and I think that is what happens. People come out initially and they say ‘I am not runner’ but then they come out and realise that everyone is having fun…so it’s a good social event as well.”
Compared to home, Mr Carr said the road racing conditions are a lot harder to run under here as it is a lot hotter. “And there are not so many people in the races here as back home where you have big half marathons with thousands of people. So the heat, the Caribbean hills and not so many people are the difference compared to back home.”
Asked if he would return to the Virgin Islands, Mr Carr said “I am sure I will come back to visit and maybe do a race as well if I come back.”
Maybe we just might see Mr Carr coming back to defend his half marathon title in Virgin Gorda next year!
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