Congratulations to Ray Williams and Dave Nevitt for completing their running challenges! While many of us spend the first few weeks after a marathon trying to remember how to run, our two favourite running “tough guys” saw Boston as a mere stepping stone in the spring calendar of events.   

 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!

The cool winds of spring may still have us reaching for our gloves when we step outside, but for many Fast Company members the racing season is well under way. Ray Williams, Dave Nevitt, Brenda Topliss, and Cathy Carter all had strong performances in the Boston Marathon and are busy looking ahead to the next event on the calendar. 

 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!