Linders reaping benefits of marathon

Date: February 9th, 2006

Author: Adam Richardson

Derek Linders didn't win the Bluenose Marathon last May. He won't win this May, either.

But the thought of losing is exactly what attracted the Halifax resident to the event in the first place.

Linders weighed about 315 pounds two years ago, when he decided to change his lifestyle and run the half-marathon at last year's Bluenose weekend.

He dropped plenty of pounds (now weighing about 240) and a sedentary lifestyle, to complete the run. It's a moment that still holds significance for the 39-year-old.

"I wasn't active and I was in poor health," said Linders, following the Blusenose Marathon's kick-off news conference at a chilly Grande Parade yesterday. "The event meant so much to me. It was the catalyst I needed to get back on track."

Last year, Linders trained by using running to help battle his high cholesteral, low-energy lifestyle. The training came to a head when he hit the road May 23, wading through more than 70 millimetres of rain and bracing for wind gusts topping 80 km/h.

He decided nothing, not even conditions some marathoners described as the worst they'd seen, would stop him from reaching his goal.

"I didn't mind the weather. In fact, I felt pretty hardcore out there. I saw all those skinny people blowing around in the wind, while I plodded along and did my thing," joked Linders.

Now, Linders has gone from someone who felt embarrassed working out in the public eye at 300 pounds to a role model for his own two girls, aged five and 12. This year's goal is to complete the course in the race-walk event in under five hours.

"I want to set a positive example for my children," said Linders, a member of Team Myles, a group promoting active lifestyles for first-time entrants.

"Before I started working out, I was ashamed to get on a scale.

"It's important for kids to see the importance of a physically active lifestyle, especially with so many young people overweight now."

As for the rest of the field, co-chairman Gerry Walsh said they're bound to get better conditions than last year's storm.

"We're guaranteeing better weather," said Walsh, tempting fate. "We had such a great turnout despite the rain, so it should be even bigger this year."

More volunteers

Walsh stressed the need for more volunteers, hoping for a total of 800 by race day. He hopes the event attracts runners to enjoy more than just a painstaking three-plus hours of feet against pavement.

"We think this is already a great weekend. The response has been strong from those who participate, and we want to sell Halifax to people who haven't been here before."

The course will remain largely unchanged when the gun blasts on the 2006 edition of the marathon Sunday, May 21. The full marathon will feature a loop through Dartmouth and Halifax, with the only route switches being made because of changes forced by weather last year.

The third edition of the event officially begins on May 19, with various activities planned leading up to the May 21 race.

arichardson@hfxnews.ca