PEI Marathon 2018 - 15th Anniversary Edition

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

PEI Marathon 15th Anniversary Edition October 12th-14th, 2018

7695462

2

OCTOBER 2018

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

P.E.I. Marathon Weekend Event Schedule Please note that the Healthy Lifestyle Expo & Registration will be held in our “NEW” Headquarters Location at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel, 18 Queen St, Charlottetown FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM PEI Marathon Healthy Lifestyle Expo @ DELTA PRINCE EDWARD 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Race Kit Pick Up @ DELTA PRINCE EDWARD 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM On-Site Registration @ DELTA PRINCE EDWARD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Marathon Expo @ DELTA PRINCE EDWARD

9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Race Kit Pick Up @ DELTA PRINCE EDWARD 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM On-Site Registration @ DELTA PRINCE EDWARD 9:30 AM Running Room 3K Friendship Run @ RUNNING ROOM CHARLOTTETOWN 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Kids Fox Trot presented by Sobeys Extra and The Guardian, “On-Site Registration” @ ALUMNI CANADA GAMES PLACE, UPEI

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM Kids Fox Trot presented by Sobeys Extra and The Guardian “warm up” with Ocean 100’s Kirk MacKinnon 9:00 AM 11:00 AM First heat, kids ages 6 – 14, 2 laps Bell Let’s Talk Half Marathon Walk for Mental 11:15 AM Health, Corner of Queen & Second heat, kids ages 5 and Grafton St under, 1 lap SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 * Please note the NEW start times for the Half Marathon, 10k, 5k and Wheelchair events* 7:00 AM Buses for the Grant Thornton Full Marathon Depart for National Park Start Line, Confederation Center Queen St Entrance 7:00 AM Buses for Subaru of Charlottetown Corporate Relay (1st leg) Depart for Brackley Beach, PEI National Park Start Line, Confederation Center Entrance Queen St

7695677 7695677

9:10 AM Pursuit 10K Run, Corner of Queen & Grafton St 9:10 AM Bell Let’s Talk 10K Walk for Mental Health, Corner of Queen & Grafton St 9:20 AM Goodlife Fitness 5K Run, Corner of Queen & Grafton St 9:20 AM Bell Let’s Talk 5K Walk for Mental Health, Corner of Queen & Grafton St 9:30 AM Spinal Cord Injury PEI 2K Wheelchair, NEW Start line at Corner of Queen & Grafton St

8:00 AM Grant Thornton Full Marathon, 10:45 AM – 2:15 PM Brackley Beach, PEI National Park Participant Massage presented

by Downtown Charlottetown 8:00 AM Inc, The Mack, Corner of Great Subaru of Charlottetown Corporate/Team Relay (1st Leg) George and Grafton St Brackley Beach, PEI National Park 2:30 PM PEI Marathon Awards Ceremony 9:00 AM presented by Murphy Hospitality Dairy Farmers of Canada Half Marathon Run, Corner of Queen Group, The Mack, Corner of & Grafton St Great George and Grafton St

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

OCTOBER 2018

Welcome to the P.E.I. Marathon

MYRTLE JENKINS-SMITH

I welcome all participants to the 15th anniversary of the Prince Edward Island Marathon (P.E.I. Marathon) taking place October 12-14. Thank you for choosing to celebrate with us.

P.E.I. has had a strong running history going back many, many years. As Race Director, looking back over the past 14 years, I think how fortunate we are to have such strong support in helping to grow this wonderful P.E.I. Marathon weekend.

3

Thanks to our Amazing Partners

• The P.E.I. Marathon is the second largest marathon in Atlantic Canada and has attracted more than 27,000 participants in the various event categories since 2004.

• • More than 640 P.E.I. Marathon participants have qualified for the Boston Marathon.

• • More than 4,600 volunteers helped to ensure Marathon Weekend runs smoothly.

• • The event has consistently attracted participants from every Province in Canada, the USA, and internationally to P.E.I. each year.

• In 2017, we partnered with Canadian Mental Health – P.E.I. Division to raise awareness of the relationship of being active and having a healthy mindset.

• We are very proud of our popular free kids event the “Kids Fox Trot” attracting more than 500 kids each year • Creation of a youth rate to help get more youth active.

• The Marathon presented a new race in 2016, The Georgetown 5K and 10K. • Through various programs the P.E.I. Marathon has helped local organizations and teams raise more than $100,000 to date.

On behalf of the entire P.E.I. Marathon team, we wish all participants a Thank you to the event’s board, dir- fun and safe weekend! ectors, manager, committee, sponsors and 300+ volunteers that help to pull Many thanks, off this massive weekend. We could not Myrtle Jenkins-Smith do this without you!

Race Director, PEI Marathon

• The P.E.I. Marathon is a Boston Qualifier and in 2016 was voted one of the “Top 5 Boston qualifiers in Canada.”

• It has achieved continuous growth each year, reaching 2,361 participants in 2017.

• The Marathon’s goal has always been to make the weekend a family friendly event and has grown to include 10 running, walking and wheeling categories – “Something for Everyone!”

7695634

Some marathon weekend highlights from over the past 14 years include:

4

OCTOBER 2018

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

A legacy of racing

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE Sixteen years ago, Myrtle JenkinsSmith was considering the idea of a marathon weekend on P.E.I. – which had hosted lots of Saturday-morning marathons, but never a full weekend of events.

“Every other province in Canada had a full race weekend, so we wanted to try doing the same thing,” says JenkinsSmith, who remains at the helm as Race Director. “That first year, we had 173 runners which felt like a huge success considering it was brand new.”

By last year, the P.E.I. Marathon was up to 2,375 runners organized into 10 different categories.

“Our goal from the very beginning was to offer an inclusive weekend – something for the entire family,” says JenkinsSmith. “So we have the full marathon, the half marathon (running or walking), the 10K and the 5K (running or walk-

ing), the Corporate relay, the kids’ event Marathon, they started giving away a and the wheelchair event.” weekly prize 15 weeks before the big weekend. During the final race day, JenThe P.E.I. Marathon is celebrating its kins-Smith says they’ll be giving away 15th anniversary this year, and Jenkins- $1,500 cash.

Smith says last year’s visiting runners came from every province in Canada, 18 Even though the 15th P.E.I. Marathon different U.S. states, Mexico, Japan and has yet to begin officially, Jenkins-Smith Australia – giving the province a huge says she and the other organizers are tourism boost during the slower shoul- already well into preparations for Year der season.

16. They’re adding another category which they’ll be announcing around Part of the reason it’s so popular is Christmas. that the P.E.I. Marathon has been a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon She says they’re so fortunate to have since its second year. Jenkins-Smith a great management team and supsays runners come from all over the portive sponsors, as well as a team of world for the relatively flat course and more than 300 loyal volunteers – many comfortable autumn weather. of whom have been there since the beginning.

“Being a Boston qualifier has opened a lot of doors to people coming from Although this is the 15th year for away,” says Jenkins-Smith. “We’ve been the P.E.I. Marathon, it’s by no means voted one of the Top 5 Boston Qualifiers the 15th year of marathon running on in Canada, which is not an easy thing Prince Edward Island. for us to have achieved!”

The PEI Roadrunners Club has been To celebrate 15 years of the P.E.I. operating since the ’70s and organized its first marathon in 1979.

clude the Wally Rodd 5K and 10K, the Fulton Campbell half marathon, the Desmond Baglole 15K, the Freeze Your Gizzard half marathon (held every February), the Bunny Hop 5K and 10K, the Dunk River 11.6K and the Harvest Festival 25K – which has been running for 45 years.

Kevin McCarville, president of the PEI Roadrunners Club, says they don’t organize races per se, rather they provide support to the individual race directors. This year they’re overseeing more than 70 race events, and the club averages 250 members annually.

McCarville says the Roadrunners’ website lists all of the races and posts the results – including name, age, time and pace.

“One of our members, Janet Bain, stands at the finish line and takes photos of every finisher and puts the photos on the website,” says McCarville. “There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of pictures of tired, happy, wet, cold, hot and sore runners on the site – mostly tired and Their long-running annual events in- happy.”

Mayor Clifford Lee City of Charlottetown

w w w. c ha rlottetown .ca

7695678

O

n behalf of council and the City of Charlottetown, I’d like to thank the PEI Marathon organizers and volunteers for their dedication to the event for the past 15 years. Events of this magnitude couldn’t happen without the people working behind the scenes. We are proud to be the host city for this event and wish you continued success this year and into the future.

Best of luck to all of the participants!

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

5

OCTOBER 2018

5 things you need to know about the P.E.I. Marathon

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE Even if it’s your first time visiting P.E.I., there’s some stuff you’ve already figured out.

You know the local potatoes, the seafood and the COWS ice cream is all going to be delicious. You know the people are going to be super friendly. You know you’re going to have MANY opportunities to drink raspberry cordial and buy Anne of Green Gables souvenirs.

But you likely don’t know it all ... at least not yet. So from pasta dinner hotspots and the limited-edition racing token you’re going to want to buy, here are five things you might not know about P.E.I. Marathon weekend ...

1. You don’t have to run the whole marathon yourself.

Race director Myrtle Jenkins-Smith says there’s space for 50 corporate teams who work together to complete the marathon, relay-style. But you don’t need co-workers to be on board for it!

“A corporate team can be made up of eight people who work together, or just eight friends,” says Jenkins-Smith. “You might not be able to run a whole marathon by yourself, but if your section is just 7.2km or 2.7km, it’s achievable.”

She says it’s “a wonderful morale booster” for a group, and everyone is treated just like all other participants -shirts, medals, the works. Pretty cool to be able to wear a marathon medal without having run the whole thing, right?

2. There’s something for everyone.

marathon – and follow a 2km looped course through downtown Charlottetown to the marathon finish line.

Just be sure to check the schedule closely. Marathon manager Jennifer Hanus says they’ve decided to stagger some of the start times this year, so the half marathon will start at 9 a.m., the 10K will start at 9:10 a.m., the 5K will start at 9:20 a.m. and the wheelchair event will start at 9:30 a.m.

3. There’s a custom medal rack for sale.

The Healthy Living Expo at the Delta Prince Edward will include vendors to help people discover new ways to maintain or begin a healthy, active lifestyle.

It runs Friday (Oct. 12) from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday (Oct. 13) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

One of the biggest requests from runners during previous years was to have a vendor selling racks to hang racing medals, so there will be a custom metal P.E.I. Marathon rack available for sale – with five per cent of the profits benefiting the Canadian Mental Health Association of Prince Edward Island.

4. You can save $$$ in lots of unexpected places.

Most racers like to enjoy a big pasta dinner the night before their race, and Hanus says now it’s going to be easier than ever to tuck into a great meal thanks to their ReCharge, ReFuel, ReWard program.

“You can go to different restaurants around town, show your race bib and get 10-15 per cent off signature pasta dishes all weekend long,” says Hanus.

Participating restaurants include Water’s Edge, Redwater Rustic Grille, The Gahan House, Sims Corner Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, Merchant Man, The Brickhouse, Boston Pizza, Hunter’s Ale House and The Factory.

The ReCharge, ReFuel, ReWard program also includes a racer discount at participating shops and accommodations, including the Holman Grand Hotel, The Delta Prince Edward, Fairholm Properties, The Holiday Inn Express and The Hotel on Pownal.

Whether you walk, run or roll, there’s a race for you -- no matter what your age or athletic ability.

Youngsters under five have a race all of their own, and so do kids up to age 14.

If you sign up early online (http://peimarathon.ca/free-kids-run) your child is guaranteed a goodie bag, racing bib, T-shirt and a medal at the end.

Runners aged 14-16 can run the half marathon (with parental consent) and 16- and 17-year-olds can run the full marathon (with parental consent).

There’s a special youth rate this year, too.

This year the free wheelchair event has been extended to a 2K because 5. The weather is a question mark.

Be prepared for any kind of weather participants requested a longer route.

They’ll start at the corner of Queen and because Jennifer Hanus says “you just Grafton – the same start line as the half never know” what mid-October might bring.

“It could be warm and sunny and in the 20s, or it could be raining and sleeting and hailing – or all of that in the same day,” says Hanus. “If it’s a cold day, a lot of runners like to dress in layers

and discard items along the route as they heat up. Just make sure it’s something you don’t particularly want back!”

All items along the route will be discarded.

WELCOME TO

Charlottetown!

GOOD LUCK!

7695404

Share your marathon memories at #DiscoverCharlottetown

www.DiscoverCharlottetown.com

6

OCTOBER 2018

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

Let’s hear it for the kids!

Introducing the Kids’ Fox Trot

free race each year, which takes place on the track of the UPEI Alumni CanA crowd of very excited racers will ada Games Place. be giggling and bouncing around as Although the run is in its 14th year, they prepare to race in front of hundreds of spectators. This is their time it recently got a brand-new name. P.EI. to shine, and there’s even chocolate Marathon organizers invited children milk waiting for them at the finish to suggest a new name for the youth race – formerly called the Spud Run – line. and even design a new logo.

Kirk MacDonald, director of marTwo winners were selected, and keting and sponsorship with the P.E.I. now the youth run will be known as Marathon, says the annual kids’ race is the organizers’ “favourite event of the Kids’ the whole weekend.”

Fox Trot. There’s also an adorable “As with anything, you want to start fox-themed logo to go with it. them early and get them excited about “We wanted to let the kids choose staying active,” says MacDonald. “Getting a child interested in running since it’s their race,” says MacDonald. means they might get involved with “It was nice to get the community intrack in junior high or high school. It’s volved and have some fun with it.” something they can enjoy for years.”

The race is free for kids up to age 14, Between 500 and 600 kids run the and the first 500 kids who register will

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

receive an official race bib, a goodie ing up to the race so they have the best bag, a T-shirt and a medal. Everyone chance of getting the right T-shirt size. will get to enjoy a nice cold chocolate If your child feels ready for a longer milk after their race. race, MacDonald says there’s a brandnew option this year to sign them up Kids can register online in advance for either the 5K or 10K at a reduced and pick up their shirt on Friday (Oct. youth rate of $25 for the 5K and $35 12) between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the for the 10K. He says the youth rate is Delta Prince Edward. Or they can open to anyone under 17, but runners register at the Alumni Canada Games under 12 must be running with an Place, UPEI on Saturday morning (Oct. adult.

13) from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and pick up their shirt then.

“It’s a great next step for older kids who are really getting interested in There’s a fun warm-up for everyone running and want to see what they with Kirk MacKinnon from Ocean 100 (100.3FM) at 10:45 a.m. The race is can do,” says MacDonald. divided into two heats to help keep it safe for all. Kids aged 6-14 will start at 11 a.m. and run two laps. Kids five and under will start at 11:15 a.m. and run a single lap, while accompanied by an adult.

Congratulations to the PEI Marathon on your 15th Anniversary!

To all the runners – It is never easy for anyone to step out of their comfort zone and take such a challenge which requires commitment and perseverance. There is nothing more exciting than accomplishing a goal that you set for yourself and at the same time inspiring others around you.

7695408

We encourages parents to sign up their children online in the days lead-

IF YOU GO WHAT: Free Kids’ Fox Trot WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13 at 11:00am (warm up starts at 10:45am) WHERE: UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place COST: Free!

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

OCTOBER 2018

Somebunny to follow

7

Pace Bunnies are there to help you on the course different goals I’d like to hit -- an A goal, a B goal if such-and-such happens, and David Boyce needs to run the half a C goal just to finish,” says Boyce. “But being a Pace Bunny means I don’t have marathon in one hour and 55 minutes. that luxury. I just have to think about one If he can run it faster than that, well, too goal, but I’ve got to hit it.” bad. He’ll need to slow himself down.

Boyce has been running the P.E.I. half marathon as a Pace Bunny for the last few years, which means he volunteers to finish within a specific amount of time so other racers can use him as a guide.

“It’s rewarding to help people meet their running goals, and get better than they were the day before,” says Boyce.

“One year I had an older gentleman come up behind me after the race and say ‘Thank you very much. I’ve never Boyce will be wearing a running wrist- gone that fast before.’ He’d come to P.E.I. band that will update him with notifi- all the way from Columbia.” cations on his speed. He’ll also have a GPS watch to make sure he’s hitting the He says it’s nice to give back to the proper distances as he moves along the sport of running he loves so much, and course as he follows the 10:1 system: run he often volunteers at other running for 10 minutes, walk for one minute. events -- working water stops or doing anything else that’s needed. He’s also the Pace Bunny volunteers are organized race director of the Freeze Your Gizzard by the Running Room, so they’re easrace every February, where participants ily identified in Running Room T-shirts and a hat with bunny ears. Boyce will race in below-freezing temperatures.

“People who have a goal of finishing in just under two hours will use me as a gauge of how they’re doing,” says Boyce, who lives in Poverty Beach, P.E.I. “It’s my objective to try to run every kilometer the same as the one before, so I’ll be be carrying a sign with his predicted finaveraging five minutes and 27 seconds ishing time -- 1 hour, 55 minutes -- and for each.” holding it high above everyone’s heads so racers can decide if they’d like to keep It might sound stressful to have other him in sight. racers relying on you to hit a precise finishing time, but Boyce says he actually He had the same time goal last year finds running as a Pace Bunny comes and finished in one hour, 54 minutes and with less pressure than if he was running 57 seconds -- just three seconds from the solo. target. Boyce says many half-marathoners have a goal of breaking two hours, “If I was running by myself, I’d be ra- just like people running the full maracing myself and have expectations and thon often try to break four hours.

Boyce says Pace Bunnies are useful for getting a good finish time, but they also serve as helpful reminders not to use up too much energy at the beginning of the race when you’re raring to go.

“These runners spent 12, 16 or 18 weeks in a training program and then they’ve tapered off in the last few weeks, so the challenge is making sure they don’t burn out too fast,” says Boyce. “Pace Bunnies are there to set an example of running nice and steady through the race.”

He says people will often run near him for most of the race, and there’s always a point near the end -- usually about 1km before the finish line -- when they decide to break away.

“I have to hold the same pace, but once we’re far enough along the route you’ll see them start to take off,” says Boyce.

“They know they’re close to the end, and they don’t need to pace themselves anymore. They want to see how well they can finish, so it’s time to leave me in their dust.”

www.caseleys.com (902) 836-5189 1633 Blueshank Rd. Kensington

Proud supporter of the PEI Marathon for 15 years

7695809

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

8

OCTOBER 2018

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

‘Living with mental illness is still living’ Racers fundraising for CMHA-P.E.I. support staff, offering a number of individual and community programs to As thousands of runners lace up their support islanders with mental health sneakers and tackle the P.E.I. Marathon, issues. Nearly everything is free so they’ll be doing wonders for their cardio- there’s no barrier to accessing support. vascular health – as well as giving their “Any money we’re able to raise just mental health a nice boost. increases our capacity to provide supReid Burke, executive director of the port for people struggling with mental Canadian Mental Health Association health and addiction, as well as do menPrince Edward Island (CMHA P.E.I.), says tal health promotion work,” says Burke. physical activity is great for a person’s “A lot of folks can’t afford to pay to participate in programming, so the more body, mind and spirit. money we can raise, the more free support we can provide the community.”

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

REID BURKE executive director of the CMHA P.E.I.

“Lots of runners say they run not just for their physical health, but for their mental health,” says Burke. “It gets your endorphins fired up in your system and it can be a great boost for your mental health.”

This is the second year the P.E.I. Marathon is supporting CMHA P.E.I. Last year’s marathon raised an impressive $15,000 for CMHA P.E.I., and Burke is hopeful they’ll do even better this year.

“We’ve met with the corporate team captains and introduced the ability for teams to fundraise as a team and got them set up with fundraising kits,” says Burke. “Everyone’s very excited to see what they can fundraise.”

CMHA P.E.I. is a non-profit mental health agency comprised of more than 100 volunteers and more than 40

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Here are four different ways you can support the Canadian Mental Health Association (P.E.I.) leading up to the P.E.I. Marathon: 1. Make a donation online when you register for a race 2. When you register, click the “Round to Raise” option to bump your fee to the nearest $5 increment – automatically donating the proceeds to CMHA-P.E.I. 3. Sign up to collect donations, and your registration fee will be refunded after you hit your fundraising goal 4. Donate directly to CMHA-P.E.I. whether you’re participating or not: https:// raceroster.com/events/2018/15575/15th-annual-prince-edward-islandmarathon/charity/donate/11402

Burke says it can take a lot of effort to change the public’s beliefs about what to encourage them to speak up. mental illness looks like, so CMHA P.E.I. “Pretty much everybody you talk to organized a popular radio campaign will know somebody,” says Burke. “Menwhere people told their own stories. tal health issues and addiction issues “It was really powerful to hear from are the leading cause of disability in someone who has bipolar disorder but the workplace, so it’s important for still coaches his kid’s team and holds a us to teach people strategies on how great job,” says Burke. “It helped to show to achieve and maintain good mental mental illness in a different light, and health.” show people that living with mental illCMHA P.E.I. has generated ‘Safe Talk’ – ness is still living.” a free three-hour alertness training proBurke says an estimated 1 in 5 Can- gram that prepares anyone 16 or older to adians are dealing with mental health become a suicide-alert helper. They also challenges, and at least 60 per cent of work with people across the island to get people with mental health issues don’t them safe spaces to sleep, and operates ask for help so it’s an ongoing challenge nearly 200 units of housing.

Burke says their partnership with the P.E.I. Marathon is helping CMHA P.E.I. reach a wider audience to share the important connection between physical health and mental health.

If you’re not a runner and can’t imagine tackling a marathon, he says even a gentle walk around your neighbourhood – breathing in the fresh air – can be incredibly helpful.

“It’s all about giving yourself a break in your routine and taking time for yourself,” says Burke. “When you do something for yourself, you often feel a lot better.”

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

OCTOBER 2018

9

‘I like the challenge’ Why Francis Fagan, 68, runs the P.E.I. Marathon every year

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

“We usually get together there after the marathon, and have a meal and a few soda pops.”

Francis Fagan didn’t start running marathons until he was 42 years old.

Now he’s 68 and showing no signs of slowing down.

As he creeps closer to his 70s, Fagan says running regularly has been an important way to maintain good health.

“I used to play softball but I got too long in the tooth for it,” chuckles Fagan.

“I broke my leg when I was 41 and when I was rehabbing, someone mentioned running so I decided to try it.”

“There have been a few times I’ve been injured and couldn’t run for 2-3 weeks, and I packed on the pounds pretty quick,” says Fagan. “If I didn’t run, I’d be heavier and not in the best shape.”

He liked running well enough, so when someone suggested he try doing a marathon, he agreed.

He says he typically runs 30 miles a week (48km) but bumps it up to 50-60 miles (80-96km) leading up to a marathon before tapering down again. He averages 5-6 marathons per year, and regularly encourages other retirees to give it a try.

“I like the challenge of marathons,” says Fagan, who is originally from Newfoundland but has called Charlottetown home for the last 50 years.

“No two marathons are the same, even if you’re doing the same course. Sometimes you’re tired at this point and not that point. It’s always different.”

He’s run 122 marathons including ones in Scotland and Dublin -- which gets close to 20,000 runners -- as well as the Boston Marathon “quite a few times.”

He’s run marathons in every province ex- the same weekend, but I’d always rather cept for three, but his favourite remains do this one here at home.” the P.E.I. Marathon -- which he’s run conHe’s gearing up for his 15th P.E.I. Marasistently for the last 14 years. thon, where his wife will be cheering for “The P.E.I. Marathon was the first one I him on the sidelines, along with one of ever did, and I’ve done it every year,” says his daughters. (His other daughter will Fagan. “There are other marathons on be sending positive vibes from her home

“I’ve read stories about 80-year-olds getting into running, so it’s never too late to start,” says Fagan. “You don’t have to start with a marathon. Just run around the block, and next time try to get to a block and a half -- that’s how I started.” in Fort McMurray.)

He says he likes meeting so many new people at marathons, and has grown many friendships with fellow runners.

After he finishes, Fagan plans to hit up the Old Triangle with some of his running buddies.

His advice for first-timer marathoners is to relax and take everything in because it’s a special experience.

“Don’t get too concerned about your time,” says Fagan. “The idea of your first marathon is to run and enjoy it. You can always work on getting faster in the next one.”

10

OCTOBER 2018

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

Marathon boosts tourism across P.E.I. providing a healthy boost to the province’s tourism during a time of year when business would ordinarily be Everyone flocks to Prince Edward slow.

Island during the summer months to play on its beaches and explore its “They’ve got to travel to the island, seaside towns. But when the air turns they’re renting hotel rooms or B&Bs crisp and the leaves start to change, it on the island -- and most of them no longer means tourist season is fin- aren’t just coming in the night before ished for the year. the race,” says Paynter. “They’re eating in restaurants and checking out retail This is the 15th year the P.E.I. Mara- establishments and filling up their vethon has been drawing thousands to hicles with gas and generally adding to the island in the middle of October. the economy of the island.”

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

“The marathon falls on the weekend after Thanksgiving, which used to be a very quiet time across the province, so now there’s something nice and big on the calendar,” says Cheryl Paynter, CEO of Tourism PEI. “Around half of the participants are from off the island, so organizers have done a stellar job of attracting them to our province during the off-season.”

Paynter says all of these visitors are

says runners start on the beautiful north shore and run by beaches, lighthouses and wharves. Then they’re off to the rolling farmlands and onto Confederation Trail, where the autumn leaves will be in dazzling shades of orange and red.

“They get to finish by running down University Avenue into the heart of the city and finish up in front of the Cenotaph with everyone cheering. From a marathoner’s perspective, they really get to see it all,” says Paynter. “We hear all the time that P.E.I. hospitality is Paynter says the whole island is second to none, and it’s true.” alive with energy during marathon weekend, and everyone can feel the Wayne Long, events development excitement leading up to the big day. officer with the City of Charlottetown, says the P.E.I. Marathon is a great ex“There’s a lot of checking the weath- ample of “sport tourism” -- and a very er forecast and folks getting to know prosperous market for the city. the island from a runner’s perspective,” says Paynter. “They love that “It has such a positive impact on they’re getting to explore so much of the area as we move into our ‘shoulthe province.” der season.’ It’s a time of year when we really need that injection of people,” During the full marathon, Paynter says Long.

CHERYL PAYNTER CEO of Tourism P.E.I.

top city in Canada (with a population under 50,000) for hosting sporting events.”

Long says P.E.I. may be Canada’s smallest province, but Charlottetown’s status as a capital city and the birthHe says sport tourism brings $43M place of Confederation has made it a to Charlottetown’s economy each year booming tourism destination. and a staggering $6.5B to the Canadian economy.

“The P.E.I. Marathon organizing committee has done a fantastic job “Charlottetown has won many na- over the last 15 years, making our tional awards for sport tourism -- marathon one of the top in the region more than any other city our size in and beyond,” says Long. the country,” says Long. “Global Sport Index recently ranked Charlottetown “It’s become a can’t-miss event that the 15th city overall in Canada for people around the world are talking hosting sporting events, and we’re the about.”

Hit the road this Fall 7695389

THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

OCTOBER 2018

11

On the road to Boston P.E.I. -- which is road running at its finest, on a nice quiet Sunday morning,” Scott Clark is about to run his 70th says Clark. “Then you’re on the Confedmarathon. It’s a milestone he never im- eration Trail, which is very forgiving for agined back when he started running sore knees or feet or hips.” just to lose a few pounds.

He says it sometimes starts to drag around the time you exit the trail, and The Summerside resident of one of many runners from around the world luckily that’s exactly when you meet up who use the P.E.I. Marathon to qualify with runners doing the half. for the famed Boston Marathon. In fact, “You’re feeling tired and lonely and the P.E.I. Marathon is one of Canada’s then suddenly you’re meeting these Top 5 Boston qualifiers. other runners. It’s really uplifting,” says “The Boston Marathon is like the Clark. “Then you’re hitting the city and Masters in golf,” explains Clark. “If there are all these people cheering you you’re really into running, you want to on, and you can see the finish. It’s a great ending.” get to Boston.”

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

When it’s all over, Clark says he’ll be Clark says marathoners love the P.E.I. course because it’s relatively flat -- heading straight for a large Tim Hortons “other than a few speed bumps near the coffee -- which he’ll sip while cheering end” -- and the cool fall weather is com- on the rest of the runners.

He says rookie marathoners often fortable for a long run, making it easier make the mistake of starting out too He’s already registered for this spring’s to finish with a good qualifying time.

Boston Marathon, after running the fast, either from excitement or to show off their speed right out of the gate.

Although the course is relatively com- Johnny Miles race back in June. But if fortable, race director Myrtle Jenkins- he improves his time running the P.E.I. Smith says it undergoes rigorous test- Marathon, he can use it to bump up his ing to ensure it meets Boston Marathon starting position in Boston. standards. Someone from Boston runs “They place you in corrals according the course each year, and a team travTo all PEI Marathon Weekend particcipants elled to P.E.I. two years ago to measure to your qualifying time, and each corral and approve minor changes after some holds about 1,000 runners,” says Clark.

“Last year I was in Coral 2, so there road construction. were already 1,000 people ahead of me.

Clark has run the Boston Marathon You always want to get as close to the nine times so far, and says while there’s front as you can, to see the pros and the “a lot of hype,” it’s certainly exciting to elites.” be running in a crowd of 25,000 people.

His time was three hours and 10 He first ran the Boston Marathon seconds, so he’s hoping to finish in less back in 2003, after qualifying at a race than three hours this time. in Columbus, Ohio the previous fall. But “You have until January to improve he says it was really nice to be able to qualify for the Boston Marathon by run- your position, so this is a great opportunity,” says Clark. “I’m feeling really fit ning the P.E.I. Marathon in 2005. these days, so we’ll see.”

“You always want to be able to do the In the last few weeks leading up to marathon that’s in your own backyard.” any marathon, Clark says his training is Clark has participated in the P.E.I. mostly finished and it’s all about careful Marathon every year, either in the 10K preparation. He watches what he eats, (once, due to injury), the half mara- stays hydrated, decides what he’s going thon or the full marathon. He’s run the to wear and tries to prevent injuries.

MP Charlotttetown full marathon 12 times consecutively, The night before the P.E.I. Marathon, and says it’s “amazing” because of the Phone: 902-566-77770 he’ll eat a nice meal and try to go to unique scenery you get to enjoy.

Email: sean.casey@ @parl.gc.ca sleep early. When he wakes up, he’ll www.seancasey.ca a “You’ve got the surf crashing in from eat very little so he doesn’t risk feeling the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the sand bloated and overfull. dunes, and then you head into rural

“You’ve got to run 42km so you’re not winning it in the first few kilometres, but you can definitely lose it then -- or cause trouble for yourself,” says Clark.

“Patience is key.”

Whether you walk or you run, make sure to have fun!

Sean Casey

7695407

You’ve worked for this, you’ve trained for this, and finally it’s time

n e e w o HNiaghlts of Fear!

Visit the Haunted Mansion for Halloween fun!

On Saturdays & Sundays we will be open 2-4pm with a family friendly haunt. Dr. Jack will even have the rides running for the kids!

Nights, from 6-9pm, all of the ghouls will be here to grasp onto your darkest fears and terrify you!

Haunted H a ll o w e e n Mansion N ig h ts o f F ear!

? e v i v r u s u iW ll yo You’ll have to run for your life!

Runners wear your marathon medal for opening weekend, October 13th & 14th, and get 40% off your admission

www.hauntedmansionpei.ca

81 Victoria Street West, Kensington, PE Canada

Open October 13-30

(on the following dates & times)

Oct 13 & 14 - 2-4pm & 6-9pm Oct 19 - 6-9pm Oct 20 & 21 - 2-4pm & 6-9m Oct 25 & 26 - 6-9pm Oct 27 & 28 - 2-4pm & 6-9pm Oct 29 & 30 - 6-9pm Prices 2-4pm - 10.00 6-9pm - $17.00

info@hauntedmansionpei.ca 902-836-3336 7695405