PEI Marathon: You'll Suprise Yourself
Today, I want to talk about the PEI Marathon.
For those of you who do not know me personally, this past week I took part in the PEI Marathon! Specifically, I finished my first ever half marathon! My goal was to finish between 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes. I am happy to report I went across the finish line at 2:15:02.
I wanted to talk about this today because running has really taken off on the Island. For example, on Saturday, October 13, the PEI Marathon started off with a kids event. According to Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, the race director, they were hoping to have 500 kids participate, it was closer to 600! And the numbers were up across the board.
Also new this year, and a testament to the number of participants, was staggered start times. The Grant Thornton Full Maritime, 42.195 kilometres, started at 8 am, at Brackley Beach. The Subaru of Charlottetown Corporate Relay also started in Brackley Beach. The Corporate Relay was how I was introduced to the PEI Marathon a few years ago when I worked at the Charlottetown Superstore and we put in a team.
The Diary Farmers of Canada Half Marathon Run and the Bell Let’s Talk Half Marathon Walk for Mental Health both started at 9 am in downtown Charlottetown.
The Pursuit 10k Run and Bell Let’s Talk 10k Walk for Mental Health started at 9:10 am downtown.
The GoodLife Fitness 5k Run and Bell Let’s Talk 5k for Mental Health started at 9:20 am downtown.
The Spinal Cord Injury (Prince Edward Island) Inc. 2k Wheelchair Event started at 9:30 am downtown.
All races finished at Great George Street and Grafton Street.
The PEI Marathon is also one of Canada’s top five Boston Marathon qualifiers. Meaning that our course is good if you want to make it to the Boston Marathon. For that though, you will need to run 42.195 kilometres incredibly quickly. In 2018, Yuki Kawauchi of Japan won the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:15:58. Wow.
Maybe in a few years I'll attempt my first full marathon, not sure I could do it that quickly though.
This year at the PEI Marathon, the male and female winners were Stan Chaisson, originally from Bear River, who won the marathon with a time of 2:34:40 and Amber Spriggs of Charlottetown, finished with a time of 3:11:29.
For those of you reading this thinking you cannot run that fast, that’s okay. Part of taking part in the PEI Marathon is the experience. It’s fun. Lots of training depending on how much running you already do, but it’s rewarding and fun. One of the fun aspects for me this year was getting to the finish line and seeing my boyfriend and one of my old babysitters standing beside each other and cheering me on as I approached the finishing line. Turns out they didn’t know who the other was until they cheered me on.
If you decide you want to get into running but don't know how to start, remember:
1. There are running groups around PEI, such as the Running Room in Charlottetown. The Running Room offers a free run club that meets a few times a week. Plus, they offer training programs ranging from learning to run to the full marathon. If you don't have one in your area, get a group together and start one.
2. There are more organized runs than you think. Both the Running Room and PEI Roadrunners Club have a list of local runs on their websites. These runs are in Charlottetown, Stratford, Montague, Fort Augustus, Summerside, Abrams Village, they are all over! The sizes vary, so if you don't want to start with a run the size of the PEI Marathon, you don't have to.
Smaller runs can be fun too. I'm registered in the Light Up the Lake run on November 17, 2018. This race is limited to 90 participants. There are currently 79 people registered, so if you are interested, register soon!
3. Most events have a walking category. Not everyone can run, I can think of numerous health problems that may hold you back. Or maybe you prefer walking to running - some people hate running. In which case, remember, most events have walking categories. Just note that if you register in a running category you are allowed to walk if you get tired. But, if you register in a walking category you can't run.
4. Be mindful of injury. Like all exercise, if you do it wrong you could get injured. Many runners, myself included, have to be mindful of runners knee.
Runners knee, essentially, is when your knee takes on more weight as you push through your stride. That is really oversimplifying it and Runner's World has a pretty good article on it. It's an injury that is pretty preventable once you figure out why you are having the issue. According to Runner's World, there are two main causes of runners knee. The first is weak hips and inner quads. The second is tight hamstrings and hips.
Although this injury is common among runners, it can also occur through other exercises, like squats.
5. Don't ignore stretching. Stretches are important. If you do not stretch, you will feel sore and tight.
6. Size doesn't matter. If you have an image in your head that runners are all skinny and look like people out of magazines, squash it right now. Running is a great way to lose weight and if you are seriously training for a run you will likely lose weight. I, myself, am hoping to get my half marathon time down to 2 hours next year and I know that will require a lot of discipline on my part, but not all runners are in the best shape of their lives. Do not let your size hold you back. You'll surprise yourself.
See you at the races!
 |
| PEI Marathon logo (Image Credit: PEI Marathon) |
For those of you who do not know me personally, this past week I took part in the PEI Marathon! Specifically, I finished my first ever half marathon! My goal was to finish between 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes. I am happy to report I went across the finish line at 2:15:02.
I wanted to talk about this today because running has really taken off on the Island. For example, on Saturday, October 13, the PEI Marathon started off with a kids event. According to Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, the race director, they were hoping to have 500 kids participate, it was closer to 600! And the numbers were up across the board.
 |
| Me after completing my first ever half marathon (Photo Credit: Rita MacKenzie) |
Also new this year, and a testament to the number of participants, was staggered start times. The Grant Thornton Full Maritime, 42.195 kilometres, started at 8 am, at Brackley Beach. The Subaru of Charlottetown Corporate Relay also started in Brackley Beach. The Corporate Relay was how I was introduced to the PEI Marathon a few years ago when I worked at the Charlottetown Superstore and we put in a team.
The Diary Farmers of Canada Half Marathon Run and the Bell Let’s Talk Half Marathon Walk for Mental Health both started at 9 am in downtown Charlottetown.
The Pursuit 10k Run and Bell Let’s Talk 10k Walk for Mental Health started at 9:10 am downtown.
The GoodLife Fitness 5k Run and Bell Let’s Talk 5k for Mental Health started at 9:20 am downtown.
The Spinal Cord Injury (Prince Edward Island) Inc. 2k Wheelchair Event started at 9:30 am downtown.
All races finished at Great George Street and Grafton Street.
The PEI Marathon is also one of Canada’s top five Boston Marathon qualifiers. Meaning that our course is good if you want to make it to the Boston Marathon. For that though, you will need to run 42.195 kilometres incredibly quickly. In 2018, Yuki Kawauchi of Japan won the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:15:58. Wow.
Maybe in a few years I'll attempt my first full marathon, not sure I could do it that quickly though.
This year at the PEI Marathon, the male and female winners were Stan Chaisson, originally from Bear River, who won the marathon with a time of 2:34:40 and Amber Spriggs of Charlottetown, finished with a time of 3:11:29.
For those of you reading this thinking you cannot run that fast, that’s okay. Part of taking part in the PEI Marathon is the experience. It’s fun. Lots of training depending on how much running you already do, but it’s rewarding and fun. One of the fun aspects for me this year was getting to the finish line and seeing my boyfriend and one of my old babysitters standing beside each other and cheering me on as I approached the finishing line. Turns out they didn’t know who the other was until they cheered me on.
If you decide you want to get into running but don't know how to start, remember:
1. There are running groups around PEI, such as the Running Room in Charlottetown. The Running Room offers a free run club that meets a few times a week. Plus, they offer training programs ranging from learning to run to the full marathon. If you don't have one in your area, get a group together and start one.
2. There are more organized runs than you think. Both the Running Room and PEI Roadrunners Club have a list of local runs on their websites. These runs are in Charlottetown, Stratford, Montague, Fort Augustus, Summerside, Abrams Village, they are all over! The sizes vary, so if you don't want to start with a run the size of the PEI Marathon, you don't have to.
Smaller runs can be fun too. I'm registered in the Light Up the Lake run on November 17, 2018. This race is limited to 90 participants. There are currently 79 people registered, so if you are interested, register soon!
3. Most events have a walking category. Not everyone can run, I can think of numerous health problems that may hold you back. Or maybe you prefer walking to running - some people hate running. In which case, remember, most events have walking categories. Just note that if you register in a running category you are allowed to walk if you get tired. But, if you register in a walking category you can't run.
4. Be mindful of injury. Like all exercise, if you do it wrong you could get injured. Many runners, myself included, have to be mindful of runners knee.
Runners knee, essentially, is when your knee takes on more weight as you push through your stride. That is really oversimplifying it and Runner's World has a pretty good article on it. It's an injury that is pretty preventable once you figure out why you are having the issue. According to Runner's World, there are two main causes of runners knee. The first is weak hips and inner quads. The second is tight hamstrings and hips.
Although this injury is common among runners, it can also occur through other exercises, like squats.
5. Don't ignore stretching. Stretches are important. If you do not stretch, you will feel sore and tight.
6. Size doesn't matter. If you have an image in your head that runners are all skinny and look like people out of magazines, squash it right now. Running is a great way to lose weight and if you are seriously training for a run you will likely lose weight. I, myself, am hoping to get my half marathon time down to 2 hours next year and I know that will require a lot of discipline on my part, but not all runners are in the best shape of their lives. Do not let your size hold you back. You'll surprise yourself.
See you at the races!
Comments
Post a Comment