DYK: PEI Running Edition

With the 2023 PEI running season kicking off this weekend, it seemed appropriate to look at some PEI running history.

DYK: The PEI Road Runners  has been around since the mid-1970's! If you ever start to think about entering a run, or hosting one, their website is the place to go. Don't forget to check out the races set for 2023 so far.

DYK: It's the 20th anniversary of the Freeze your Gizzard run in Montague. They do a 5km, 10km, and half marathon. This year, I had been hoping to do the half. But I got Covid-19 a few weeks ago, so I'm doing the 5km.

DYK: The PEI Marathon had to change the full marathon course for 2022 because of Fiona. Too many trees were still down for the normal route to be used. They plan to stick with the new route (half marathon route x2) for a while. PEI is a great place to qualify for the Boston Marathon so they need to approve the route. Plus, it's nice to change it up every once in a while.

DYK: The Full Marathon at the PEI Marathon is now called the Jacob Simmons Marathon Spud Run. Jacob Simmons was a avid runner and common sight at many Island races. I remember seeing him at many. In the beginning years of the PEI Marathon, he also played Tate, the mascot for the kids run. He was killed by an impaired driver June 12, 2020.

Jacob Simmons finishing the PEI Marathon in 2019 - Image Credit 

DYK: Jared Connaughton is one of PEI's most decorated athletes. He's been a World Championship team member three times, won silver in the 2007 Pan American Games 4x100 relay, and won gold at the 2005 Canada Games for the 100m and 200m. This also makes him the first Islander to ever be a double gold medalist at the Canada Games. He now lives in Texas.

DYK: Hashem's Variety  is a trusted running staple for many Island runners. Salam Hashem came to PEI from Lebanon and still runs about 15-20 miles per week, with some walking mixed in. If you ever want a pair of Asics shoes, and the socks of course, then he is the man to see.

DYK: At the first Canada Summer Games, Islander William MacKinnon won the 100m dash. Silencing those who were not expecting much from the PEI team as they didn't really the same level of training facilities.  

Finally,

DYK: There are some odd World Records in running. There are currently two records held by Islander Michael Bergeron. Bergeron, of Cavendish, holds the records for the fastest 10km while juggling and the fastest half marathon while juggling. The 10km record he broke in 2022 after running the track at the University of Prince Edward Island with a time of 34:47. Beating the previous time of 36:27, held by Toronto's Michal Kapral. The half marathon record is one he has held since the 2018 Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon with a time of 1:17:09.

Breaking a record - Image credit