Like father, like son.
In this case, it was the son who provided the push.
Bryce Gladdish returned to racing Sunday in the 46th annual Labour Day Classic, seven years after he last wore a numbered bib, inspired by the chance to run in the same event as his 12-year-old son Noah. That feeling of inspiration was mutual for Noah after completing his first big race.
"It's amazing running with him," said Noah. "I really want to do the Ironman marathon when I grow up."
The 35-year-old Gladdish, a former Ironman Canada triathlete, placed third in the 8.5-mile (14 kilometres) race Sunday in 56:48, three minutes behind male winner Brian Nemethy of Vanderhoof (53:39), who finished just ahead of female 8.5-mile winner Shar Balogh (54:06).
Noah joined the Prince George Track and Field Club in April, which got him running in a more serious way. He's hoping to eventually compete as an Ironman triathlete and his result Sunday provided more encouragement he's inherited his father's running ability.
"It was Noah getting into track and field that kind of pushed me to decide to give it another chance and run with him," said Bryce. "But it looks like I probably only have another year and he's going to be beating me, which I didn't expect.
"I did Ironman Canada the last year it was in Penticton in 2012 and that was actually my last race (before Sunday). It's been a long layoff. The long hours of training and having kids pushed me away. Now, getting back into town (after living in Prince Rupert for a few years) and Noah starting to run has reinvigorated me, I actually love it again."
They train together, sometimes with Noah's seven-year-old brother Zavier along for the run, and Noah is already looking forward to his next race, the Terry Fox Run on Sept. 15.
Noah posted the sixth-quickest time (22:51) in the five-kilometre event, a split-second behind fifth-overall Jackson Moleski, 12, whose 11-year-old brother Hunter Moleski placed seventh overall (22:52). The Moleski brothers' mother, Cara, also got into the act in the 8.5-mile event and finished in 1:20:05, ninth among female runners.
Sunday's race began under a cloudy sky but by the second lap for the 17-mile (27.3 km) racers the sun had broken through. Andy Wan, 35, won the men's 17-mile race in 1:54:11, improving on his second-place result last year.
"It was nice for the first loop but then it heated up, I just kept pouring the water on," said Wan. "The course isn't tough but there's some rolling hills. The second loop when your legs are beat up the hills eat at you a bit."
Wan said the absence of jackrabbits Jim Van Bakel and Zach Matyas made it easier for him to break the tape first. Michael Hess was second (2:09:05) and James McCurdy was third across the line (2:13:14). Wan is training for his 13th marathon when he races in Victoria on Oct. 13.
In her first Labour Day Classic, Tabetha Neudorf captured the women's 17-mile title (2:28:11) ahead of second-place Robin Levant of Dome Creek (2:30:54) and third-place Lynne Dueck of Calgary (2:41:57). Neudorf is using Sunday's race as a tuneup for two 42.2 km races on her hit list this year - the Mad Moose Marathon off-road race at Otway Nordic Centre on Sept. 22 and the Pope's Peak Adventure Run in Fort St. James, Oct. 20.
Nemethy, 58, defended his 8.5-mile title from last year. He was able to train outdoors for the race this year, a luxury runners in the area did not have in 2018 when forest fires plagued Northern B.C. with hazardous smoky conditions almost the entire month of August.
"It was much better this time," he said. "My goal was to be 53 to 54 minutes and I was 53:40, right on schedule. Shar kept pushing me. She was within 200 metres (at the finish)."
Nemethy ran his second Boston Marathon in April and clocked 3:17, four minutes faster than his first Boston race in 2015. He's a teacher at Nechako Valley Secondary School and he says his students who run cross-country keep him in good shape.
One of those students, Nolan McLeary of Vanderhoof, clocked 18:24 as the overall 5 km champion, just ahead of Nicholas Bartell (18:32) and Max Whitehouse (19:30). Jessica Sweely of Vanderhoof was to top female 5K runner in 24:01 with Brynn Witwicki (24:09) second and Madison Seely of Vanderhoof (24:10) third.
Balogh knocked nearly five minutes off her winning time from last year. The difference was, this time she wasn't pushing a baby stroller. Her now 2 1/2-year-old daughter Olivia was a spectator Sunday. Jenna Stevens (1:02:35) and Carley Billups (1:06:00) were the second and third females across the line. In the 8.5-mile race, Joseph Shea (57:01) and Dale Huzar (1:00:39) joined Nemethy on the male overall podium.
A total of 122 racers entered, not including the 15 youngsters who raced a kilometre in the kids fun run.
