Largest-ever P.E.I. Marathon weekend held Oct. 17-18

It was the largest ever P.E.I. Marathon weekend in the event’s 22-year history.

More than 3,200 participants competed in over 15 different events in the Charlottetown area from Oct. 17-18.

“It has experienced significant growth and we have every year,” said Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, who has been race director for all 22 P.E.I. Marathon weekends.

Jenkins-Smith told The Guardian in an interview on Oct. 18 that between 48 and 50 per cent of participants come from off-Island.

That includes, added Jenkins-Smith, participants from every province in Canada, internationally and from about 25 states in the U.S.

“We’re a destination run,” said Jenkins-Smith. “People come here from around the globe. They come to qualify for Boston, and there are others that come because of word of mouth – people kind of enjoy our course and the hospitality is good.”

Jenkins-Smith feels there are a number of reasons for the P.E.I. Marathon’s growth.

“We’re very affordable and we offer really good award prizes and people just seem to like it to come here,” said Jenkins-Smith. “They come here and like you’re not coming for just a day. They’re coming here from across the globe – you’re making it a destination, a vacation. Our hotels are all full (in Charlottetown).”

Jenkins-Smith admitted it is emotional watching runners start a race and begin their journey towards a goal. Jenkins-Smith added a lot of runners have a meaningful reason for participating.

“Some of them are here for the sake of a loved one; someone’s here because they perhaps had some unfortunate situation, it could have been an illness and now look at them, or they’re here for their 50th birthday, or they’re doing this in memory of someone,” said Jenkins-Smith. “There are lots of stories here.

“It kind of touches to my heart. I know some of them. Just to see people come out and do this, have a personal best for themselves, it’s really great.”

One event that brings a big smile to Jenkins-Smith is the kids’ foxtrot, which attracted just over 600 participants on Oct. 17.

Jenkins-Smith said P.E.I. Marathon weekend would not be possible without the support of the 300-plus volunteers and the business community’s sponsorship.

She added some volunteers were out at 3 a.m. on Oct. 18 setting up routes.

“There are a lot of things behind the scenes people don’t realize,” said Jenkins-Smith. “I just really would like to give a big thank you to all the volunteers.”

Top finishers in P.E.I. Marathon weekend events:

All results are gun times

Full Marathon (42.2 kilometres)

• Male – Jason McGuigan (2:49:11), North Sydney, N.S.
• Female – Klara Andersson (2:55:57), Dartmouth, N.S.

Half Marathon (21.1 kilometres)

• Male – Jack Roberts (1:09:59), Charlottetown, P.E.I.
• Female – Madeleine Crowell (1:24:28), Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Marathon Relay (Co-ed)

• Overall winners – The Road Warriors (2:35:47).

Half-Marathon Walk

• Female – Panagiota Lambropoulos (2:31:56), Boucherville, Que.
• Male – Cameron Deacoff (3:01:12), Halifax, N.S.

15K Run

• Male – Jared MacDonald (1:00:29), Fredericton, N.B.
• Female – Daun Lynch (1:03:34), Charlottetown, P.E.I.

15K Walk

• Female – June Hunter- Vautour (2:03:53), Stratford, P.E.I.
• Male – James Schurman (2:38:55), Summerside, P.E.I.

10K Run

• Female – Mairin Canning (36:57), Antigonish, N.S.
• Male – Thomas Docherty (38:41), Hazelbrook, P.E.I.

10K Walk

• Male – James Boswall (1:19:35), Frenchfort, P.E.I.
• Female – Priya Sampath (1:19:57), Charlottetown, P.E.I.

5K Run

• Male – Nathan Clinton (16:51), Mount Stewart, P.E.I.
• Female – Sharlane MacLeod (19:00), Bedford, N.S.

5K Walk

• Female – Mary Ann Gallant (37:30), Souris, P.E.I.
• Male – Randy Allain (43:27), St. Louis, P.E.I.

2K Wheelchair Race

• Male – Ryan Bulger (17:03), Charlottetown, P.E.I.
• Female – Abrigail Simmonds (19:01), Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Virtual Events

Full Marathon

No entries.

Half Marathon

• Female – Nicola Saddleton-West (1:29:10).
• Male – no entries.

15K

• Female – Jude Turner (1:47:36).
• Male – no entries.

10K

• Female – Angela Fillmore (1:32:23).
• Male – no entries.

5K

• Female – Kaya Jesso (37:37).

Jason Simmonds is a sports reporter at The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at jsimmonds@postmedia.com and followed on X @JpsportsJason.