I love a local marathon – today’s run, a local marathon.

Left Shelburne, arrived in Barrington Passage 10 minutes before race time.  Timing a bit tight…but with less than 200 runners, no worries.  Start: quarter-past 8, sun waking, rising UP above the ocean.

Cool breeze as we left town/passed Tim Horton’s & crossed the causeway to Cape Sable Island.  Clouds deflected [sun] rays ‘til the Half Marathon turnout.  Ran miles with a couple from Lunenberg NS.  We talked ships & tourism, my 100 marathon goal & ‘bout the other American they met at the Start [fellow Maniac Dan Ruiz – hung around & congratulated his Finish; good guy/another 50 Stater].

Halfers peeled off near mile 12-ish (course marked only in kilometers).  Sun beamed, temps warmed, luckily ocean winds gusted (keeping it cool) as we neared The Hawk (Nova Scotia’s southernmost point).  Traded places back-n-forth with a foreign runner entering Clark’s Harbour (mile 18-ish).  Friendly guy, tried communicating/offered his grapefruit…but I struggled to understand, so nodded & smiled politely.  [Talked later.  Syrian refugee, living local, running his first marathon.]

Barrington Passage, Clark’s Harbour, Cape Sable Island – small sparse populations.  today’s Aid Stations?  ALL manned (or wo-mann’d) with friendly upbeat individuals.  THAT’s why I love a local marathon.  LOVE the support they give to runners & the impression they leave of their community.

Water, energy drinks, gels, buckets of wet sponges.  Used those sponges from mile 19 on.  Emptied one overhead, wrung another ’round my neck.  Next aid station: wash/wet & reapply.  Plan worked 8 days ago in balmy Iowa.  10 degrees cooler in O’ Canada: felt even better.

All ’bout adjusting summer-month expectations.  Not a sub-4 but finished & finished with a smile 🙂

4^th province completed, second marathon of the month.  Free showers provided at the Rec AND a hot bowl of lobster chowder – FAAANNNNTASTIC!  LOVE LOVE local marathons.  Barrington IS the ‘Lobster Capital of Canada’.

2 hours to Halifax, return flight home – but not ‘til Monday.  Stephen & Sheila in one car/headed back to the States, sleeps in Fredericton NB.  I with Lynne & family, destination: Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia’s iconic lighthouse.  Best hosts ever, right?

Originally built in 1868, Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is Nova Scotia’s busiest tourist attraction, an iconic Canadian image.  Towering white with red trim, [the lighthouse] stands STRONG/majestic over the inlet’s craggy rock shoreline.  Breathtaking.  Just WOW!

To the Cavanaughs, Gillis’ & Schofields – I am indebted.  Two weeks of vacation squeezed into a 4-day weekend.  What an adventure!

Thanks from the bottom of my American heart ❤

47th Annual Nova Scotia Marathon Half Marathon and 10 Km – Results

 

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Barrington Passage, NS

42.2K

 

Place   Bib       Athlete            From                                       Gun Time

42        104      K R Haga        Louisville, CO, US                  4:26:05

Nova Scotia Marathon