Though her role as an emergency room doctor in Prince George (B.C.) will create some time constraints for 33 year-old Lockerby Composite and Laurentian University graduate Katie Wismer, the long-time member of the Panhellenic Soccer Club has managed to eke out time for a distance run workout, with some degree of regularity.
That much was apparent last month as Wismer established a new personal best time in the half-marathon of the Royal Victoria Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1:21:06 – good for 7th place overall in a field of more than 3500 women who participated in the race.
“I had never really raced a half before, in terms of committing to a pace and going out to try and hold it,” said Wismer, who finished second in the 10km distance at the 2017 Rocks Marathon in a time of 38:59 (and set a new 10km PB in Victoria with a time of 37:30, mid-race). “I really wanted to race it and see what it feels like as opposed to just doing it as a fitness challenge.”
“It felt really good until 12km – and then it felt really bad.”
Her situation was not helped in the least by a mild hamstring strain that curtained her race preparation as the event drew nearer. That said, with a handful of marathons and half-marathons to her credit following a very impressive five-year career with the Laurentian Voyageurs, the woman who reconnected with coach Darren Jermyn to map out a game plan for Victoria is clearly appreciative of still competing at a very high level in her sport.
“It is a privilege to still be racing in my thirties,” said Wismer. “When I was in undergrad, we had three workouts a week and this plan that Darren has created has that too, so it makes it really flexible. It’s not always ideal, but I can make it work.”
“It was nice to have a different type of challenge,” added Wismer, the top L.U. runner in 2015 when the Voyageurs women finished fifth at the OUA Championships, just 18 points from a team bronze medal finish. “I’m further into my career now so I felt that I was looking for something else in my life.”
“This was really enjoyable.”
