'Pure runners high' as thousands hit the pavement at Manitoba Marathon
About half of the nearly 12,500 participants who signed up this year are new runners, organizers say
Janine Zajac had a goal in mind while preparing for the Manitoba Marathon: she wanted to be one of the three first women to cross the finish line.
With 18 of the 42.2 kilometres of the race to go that aspiration was still in check. But Zajac started to push herself and not long after, the crowd was cheering for her as she turned into the corner to the Princess Auto Stadium leading the race into the finish line.
"[It was] an adrenaline rush, nothing like it, it's just pure runners high," Zajac said. "I haven't won a race in like 11 years, since high school — it's pretty freaking cool."
The Winnipeg runner has been lacing up her trainers and hitting the pavement running since she was seven years old. On Sunday, at the age of 28 she was the first woman to finish the full marathon after running for two hours, 58 minutes and seven seconds.
"You can start from zero and who knows where you'll go, right? As long as you put in the work," she said.
The Manitoba Marathon kicked off at 7 a.m. in south Winnipeg. Runners participated in a number of races, including the full and half-marathons, a marathon relay, as well as 5K and 10K runs.
Caleb de Jong was the first man to cross the finish line of the full marathon with a time of 2:26:47.
"I could hear people just outside the stadium, in the stadium, shouting my name … it's just a super fun day," he said.
De Jong has run for more than a decade, competing in three half Manitoba Marathons and even helping a friend with pacing for a full race. But Sunday marked the first time he reaped victory at the full Manitoba Marathon.
'A running boom'
At the age of 57 Ron Lang wanted to try out something different. The idea of doing something that could help him be healthy was also on his mind, so when his family asked him to join them in the marathon he said yes, even though it would be his first time.
"I am surprised I made it but I did," he said.
"Of course I came in last, it was my first one, so whatever — it was enjoyable," Lang said.
About half of the nearly 12,500 participants who signed up for this year's event are new runners, Rachel Munday, the executive director of the race, told CBC.
"It's a running boom," she said.
The Manitoba Marathon is just the latest example of races throughout the country seeing an increase in overall participation, Munday said.
Just shy of 1,300 people registered for the full marathon, Munday said, marking one of the largest numbers recorded in the race's history.
"It's not just about the numbers … it's a new demographic, it's a diverse group, there's people from every background and it's really exciting to see everybody in the community," Munday said.
Graceful weather
Clear skies, fresh temperatures and clean air quality graced the streets with what some runners hailed as the ideal weather for the marathon.
"We couldn't have asked for better weather," said Phyllis Reid-Jarvis.
The marathon, an annual tradition during Father's Day in Winnipeg, has been a family affair for Reid-Jarvis who over the last two decades has run alongside her relatives — this time crossing the finish line with her husband and niece.
"The moment we turn the corner and we hear the music, we're like, yeah, we can do [it]," she said referring to the end of the 10K course they ran on Sunday.
"It is so exhilarating."
The marathon is in its 47th edition this year. Arthur Chow has hit the ground running during every one of them, fundraising for people living with intellectual disabilities so they can live independently.
"It's been a passion for him forever," said his son Peter Chow.
While Peter said he might not be in the cutting shape his father is at the age of 88 to run a marathon, spending Father's Day with him on the course is the best he could ever hope for.
Buddhika Madduma and his 11-year-old son Jeth were another father-son duo at the marathon. They ran the 10K circuit after they completed the 5K last year.
"I thought it would be much easier, but no, I still beat my dad," said Jeth.
Both tend to run alone, but to be part of a group of people at the marathon came with the excitement of feeling supported and part of a greater community.
"We are immigrants here now. We are actually coming together as one ... Winnipeg or Manitoba. I am super excited," Madduma said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Gavin Axelrod