There’s no pleasing some marathoners.
Sunday’s Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon was sunny and warm, but at least one runner was wishing for rain.
“I like rain and cold. I like the hurricane one, that was my best time,” said half-marathon runner Zeno MacDonald, one of a record 9,428 participants in the marathon.
He said he ran into a few nice breezes in the beginning but the home stretch was hot.
“There were a few people stopping to catch their breath, but it wasn’t too bad.”
A medical staff was waiting at the finish line to assist several woozy runners, while others made a beeline to the cool-mist tent.
Laughter rang out when Helena Cole crossed the line — she was talking on her cellphone as she finished her race.
“I was on the phone with a girl who ran the 10K, she was calling to see where we’re at,” she laughed. “It was good timing.”
Cole said she loved the weather and the cheering crowds along the route.
Some participants ran or walked in teams, but Caroline Pellerin’s teammate was in utero. The seven-month pregnant walker said she’s normally a triathlete and marathoner.
“I knew I couldn’t do any of that but I wanted to be a part of something this year so it was my way of participating,” said the first time mother-to-be.
Tanya Murray-Freeman pushed her four-year-old son Jack in a stroller decked out like a parade float. “It’s the Blue Nose so we thought we’d go with blue of course and we thought we’d just have fun with it,” Murray-Freeman said.
Jack’s job was to eat crackers and cheer on his mom. “He says, ‘Mommy are you running? Run mommy!’”
Using her guide dog and a friend to guide the way, Heather Brenton ran the 5K for the first time on Sunday on team CNIB. “It’s been great, I’ve been looking forward to this for awhile,” Brenton said.
By the numbers
• Total competitors: A record 9,428
• Youth run: 2,906
• Full marathon: 332
• Youth run: 2,906
• Half marathon: 2,062
• 10K: 2,558
• 5K: 1,576
