This one might surprise you – probably
because you have yet to race it. Located far
from the nation’s hub cities, the Fredericton
Marathon is Canada’s most quiet and effective
way to punch your ticket to Boston. Based
on the latest tallies, this maritime race had
the highest percentage of Boston qualifying
times in Canada in 2017 (30.6 per cent), and
the second highest in 2018 (23.5 per cent).
So, if it’s so fast, why has it hardly been
discovered? Perhaps because its magic is
subtle and hides in the details. Sure, the
course is f lat, has few turns and run at sea
level, but its also run in May, when Maritime
thermostats regularly register between eight
and twelve degrees Celsius. The timing of
the race also allows runners a second crack
at a BQ in the fall if they miss it in the spring.
Fredericton seems to also favour Maritime-
based runners – like 2016 champion Maura
Wieczorek from Halifax – battling for local
bragging rights. “The Maritimes aren’t
known to have many ‘fast’ marathons,”
says Wieczorek, who lives and trains in
Halifax. “Fredericton attracts many top local
marathoners so it’s a great opportunity to
maximize your potential.”us to Guinness,” Brookes says,
“and we really followed London’s
example with the costumes and
gwr Challenges.” Toronto has
since become a North American
hub for breaking running records
and has hosted world-class
jogglers, runners in hockey equip-
ment and battery costumes and,
of course, the late Ed Whitlock as
he rewrote world records in the
75–79 and 85– 89 age groups.
For Brooks, it’s all about the
participants. “We want everyone
to feel special, to be celebrated
and to be part of the show.”B
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