Yes, it’s hard to believe, but race day is only little more than a month away! Although our numbers remain consistent at approximately 800 runners per year, the East Coast tendency to leave things to the last minute always has us lying awake at night worrying whether people will come out. As of today, we have 75 people registered online. We know know you will come, you always do, but please take our nerves into consideration- we race director’s need our sleep!

 That being said, in our efforts to make registration as accessable as possible we will be offering walk – in registration again this year at Christ Church Hall on Ochteronley Street from 3- 6pm on Sunday August 1, and from 6:30 -7:30 on race day.  

More breaking race news:

Mayor Peter Kelly has promised to run our race! We are very happy to announce that Peter Kelly has answered the challenge of race director, Ray Williams,  and confirmed that he will be running with us on Natal Day.  Last year, Mayor Kelly came out and lent his support as a spectator. When asked by our race director if he would consider running in 2010, he responded that he would have to wait and see how his experience in the Bluenose went. We assume it must have gone well (the running gods bestowed upon him the only sunny Blue Nose race to date) as we received official word last week that he will indeed be joining us, and has set a goal of breaking one hour in the six miler .

Thank you Mayor Kelly for leading by example and making time for fitness in your busy life. See you in August!

With two victories under our belt, efforts will surely be made to de-throne us in the coming year. With another year’s training under our belts, however, we should be even stronger. Bring it on, we say!

First, congratulations must be extended to Stacy Chestnut for organizing the fantastic Shelter Challenge races on Mother’s Day weekend. Fundraisers for the St. Leonard’s Society, The Benny the Bulldog 5 k and the Du it For Shelter Duathalon were well attended, well organized, and boasted some of the best draw prizes this runner has ever seen. Combine this with post-race treats from Two-If-By-Sea Cafe and you have two events that that we will look forward to for years to come.

A thumbs-up must also be given to Catherine Fitzsimmons who finished the Missisauga Marathon in a solid 4:07. Catherine also recently ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon and paced a close friend to a Boston Qualifier in another recent event.

With the long weekend fast approaching the Blue Nose Marathon is in the minds of many. This event has long been a club favourite and this year is no exception. Dave Nevitt, Karen Marlin, and Brenda Topliss are all planning to run the full marathon, while Maureen Stiner, Trish Fogarty-Pierce, Clarence Whynot, and Fred Debaie are running the half. Those running the two hour half marathon group should look for yours truly in her Bunny Ears and white ball cap. I think I am more nervous than I would be before a race!

Cabot Trail Relay is just around the corner as well. Dave Nevitt is captain of the Eastern Z Descendents – the defending mixed team champions, for those who are interested - which includes Stacy Chestnut and yours truly among its members. Word has it that Stacy plans to bike all three mountains on Saturday and run an early leg the following morning. Way to go Iron Woman!

Stay tuned later in the weekend for updates on the weekend’s race results and Marathon Maniac Dave’s next adventure.

 Just six days after leaving Beantown Dave stepped up to the start line again to run the Big Sur Marathon, thus completing the second half of the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge. True to form, he ran a solid 3:15; proving once more that he is as strong as a tank and leading many to wonder if a diet supplimented by ample amounts of jujubes and beer may truly be the key to peak performance.

Not to be outdone, Ray ”the legend”  Williams used Boston as a warm-up for his peak challenge of the spring: a 90 KM run from Dartmouth to Truro. Leaving at the cheerful hour of 4am, Ray reached the hub of Nova Scotia approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes later, having completed the longest run ever in his running career. Ray finished over an hour ahead of his predicted time, perhaps in part due to the steadfast support of his faithful running crew: Chuck Jollimore, Shawn Delu, Dave Holder, and - you guessed it –  Dave Nevitt. The loyal gang ran with Ray from Enfield to Stewiake and provided some much-needed company while yours truly drove the support vehicle and guarded the ibuprophin. A drive-by hello via motorcycle from friends Etienne and Ernestine Robichaud also helped brighten the afternoon. The Vermont 100 miler may be a couple of months away, but Ray is well underway in his preparation and has proven, once again that he can get more out of his body than most runners we know.  Well done!

 Having run a solid 3:04 in Boston on Monday, our favorite ultra runner Dave Nevitt is now resting by the pool in California as he prepares for tomorrow’s  Big Sur Marathon. Two marathons in six days? Although local runners know this is nothing unusual for Dave, some may be surprised to learn that he will have plenty of company in this “daring double” –   all 400 places in the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge have been filled. What some people will do for a jacket, arm warmers and a t-shirt!

Ray “the legend”  Williams, meanwhile, is well into his training for the Vermont Hundred Mile Endurance Run. After running the Moose Run 25k twice, completing a 6 hour overnight run through the hills of Dartmouth, and brushing up his trail running skills in Musquidobit, Ray is now gearing up for a grueling 60 mile run to Truro.  He plans to depart at 4am (the start time of the Vermont race) and run for 12 hours in the direction of Truro.  Yours truly will be on hand as a mobile support crew to provide an aid station every 8 miles or so, but the sign-up list for support runners is still open if anyone wants to come along!

CLUB NEWS

The club has two full teams entered in the Rum Runners Relay this year. We hope that as many club members as possible will join us for the whole day and cheer on the team.

Congratulations are in order for Ray Williams and Dave Nevitt who recently completed the Cheat Mountain Moonlight Madness 50 mile run in West Virginia. The race began at 9pm and treated all participants to rain, fog, mud, wildlife, and approx. 15 miles of single-track technical trails. Ray ran an impressive 10 hours and 20 minutes in what was his trail ultra debut and Dave finished in a very respectable 11 hours and 30 minutes. Dave can easliy be forgiven for his slower time as he had completed the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run only six weeks before this event!! The training partners are already talking about a return to Vermont in 2010.

 For more information on the Vermont and West Virginia Ultras the race websites have been added to the “Links” section of our page.