Marathon by the Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marathon by the Sea |
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| Date | August |
| Location | Saint John, New Brunswick |
| Event type | Road Race |
| Distance | Marathon |
| Established | 1995, 31 years ago |
| Official site | https://www.marathonbythesea.com |
Marathon by the Sea was a special yearly running event. It took place in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. This race happened every year from 1995 until 2022.
The main event was a full marathon. A marathon is a very long race, about 42.195 kilometers (or 26.219 miles). Runners who did well here could even qualify for the famous Boston Marathon. For example, in 2012, 17 runners out of 77 qualified!
The race was usually held in early August. Even though it was summer, Saint John is on the coast. This meant the weather was often cool, which was great for running. Runner's World magazine even wrote about it. They said it was "A race with a big heart and a warm smile." They also called it "a perfect late-summer spot" if you wanted a break from hot weather.
Contents
What Races Could You Run?
Even though the full marathon was the main event, Marathon by the Sea offered other races too. This meant more people could join the fun!
- Half-marathon: This race is half the distance of a full marathon.
- 10K: This race is 10 kilometers long.
- 5K: This race is 5 kilometers long.
- Kids' run: There was also a special race just for children.
The Race Route: Where Did Runners Go?
The path runners took for the Marathon by the Sea changed over the years.
Early Race Route
When the marathon first started, it began and ended in the "uptown" area of Saint John. This is the busy center of the city.
Later Race Route Changes
In 2010, the race route was changed. From then on, it started and finished at Rockwood Park. This park is in the city's North End.
The marathon course would begin at the Lily Lake pavilion inside Rockwood Park. Runners would then loop around the South End of the city. After that, they would head back to the North End briefly. Then, they would cross into the West Side of the city. They crossed the Reversing Falls Bridge to get there.
Once on the West Side, the course became a long "in-and-out" section. Runners would go through the West Side and run towards Lorneville. After reaching a special turnaround point, they would run back the same way. They crossed the Reversing Falls Bridge again and entered the North End. Finally, they would head back to Lily Lake to finish the race.
Fun Challenges for Runners
Marathon by the Sea was part of some exciting challenges for runners in New Brunswick.
The Tri-City Run
In 2013, Marathon by the Sea teamed up with two other races. These were the Fredericton Marathon and Moncton's Legs for Literacy Marathon. Together, they formed something called the "Tri-City Run."
Runners who took part in any of these three events received special medals. The cool thing was, these medals could be combined! When put together, they formed a bigger "mega-medal" called the "Tri-City Medallion." The iRun magazine in June 2013 said the Tri-City Run was one of Canada's most unique races.
The New Brunswick Challenge
In 2014, another race was added to this group. It was the Miramichi Rock 'n' Run race. With this addition, the challenge became known as the "New Brunswick Challenge." If a runner completed a race at all four of these events, they would receive a special New Brunswick Challenge medal.
See also
- List of marathon races in North America
