The Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon weekend may be several months away (May 20-22), but we are off and running! Our plans are progressing at a quick pace, and we have some exciting news to share with you. For starters, the success of our Facebook group – 2,600+ fans and growing – inspired us to launch a Twitter account: @BNMarathon. It’s your source for all the latest news on the event, plus nutrition and exercise tips to help you walk or run the distance, whatever that distance may be. And all in 140 characters or less.

Speaking of distance, we’re adding more visible distance markers to the marathon route this year so you know how far you’ve gone, and how close you are to the finish line. And we’ve added more course marshals to help keep you on track.

In other news, we’ve also got the blues – navy blue shirts, that is. Yes, the 2011 adult event shirts are being designed and will be available in a wide range of sizes, too, so you’re sure to find one that fits you to a ‘t’.

Yet the best news may be what hasn’t changed. You’ll be happy to know the entry fees for the youth, 5k, 10k, half and full marathons are all the same as last year. And we’re following the same marathon route, too.

There’s going to be many more announcements as we approach the marathon weekend. Keep watching your email for all the latest news and details.

back to top

It’s ‘snow’ fun training for a marathon in winter, if you catch our drift. Storms, frigid temperatures and icy conditions all seem to conspire against you, and make you want to hibernate. So we asked Kris Andrews, the Run Coach for Team Myles, our ambassador program, for his advice on how to beat the winter blahs and stay motivated.

• Set a weekly/monthly training plan - when you schedule training, you're more likely to do it.
• Allow for flexibility - Bad weather can throw you off your schedule. If you know a nor'easter is on the way, adjust your plan. For example, try doing your run a day earlier.
• Always do a proper warm up - This is particularly critical when it’s cold outside, and vital for anyone who is active – a novice or an elite athlete. A dynamic warm up increases your body's temperature and takes your muscles through full ranges of motion. It will also reduce your risk of injury.
• Stay hydrated - Winter weather means people tend to drink less water. Try and drink 2-3 500 ml servings daily. Also, make sure you are sufficiently hydrated before your training runs. For example, if you have a run scheduled for 5:30p.m., drink 500 ml 90 minutes before you set out. (i.e., at 4:00 p.m.)

Looking to get a leg up for Blue Nose with other training tips? Join the conversation on our Facebook page. To start on a training program of your own, visit Kris’s website, Push Fitness, or The Running Room.

back to top

Like so many of us, Scott Thomson constantly sets goals for himself, and is disappointed when he doesn’t achieve them. Last year, for example, he planned to participate in the Blue Nose Marathon for the first time, but a motorcycle injury forced him to withdraw.

This year will be a different story. Thomson, who maintains a healthy living website and blog called Your InnerSkinny.ca, is a member of Team Myles. All members of the team set a goal, train for the event and blog their progress along the way until the big day.

^"They approached me to be the team’s technical blogging coordinator,^" explains Thomson. ^"I hadn’t heard of Team Myles before, but once I knew what it was, I signed on. I always wanted to be a long-distance runner, and I thought this would be a perfect way to get started because of the support and training we’re going to get.^"

As a self-proclaimed newbie, Thomson admits he’s never run more than 3km without stopping to walk. With Team Myles training, he hopes that, eventually, he will be able to run 10k in an hour without stopping at all.

For anyone thinking about participating in the event for the first time, Thomson has two words of advice: do it. ^"Find a person or a group of people to train with and get out there. I’ve heard from other participants there are few things more satisfying than finishing your first race. I hope this is true!^"

back to top

This past month, we participated in the OptiMYz Live Health Expo at Exhibition Park. This event featured the leaders in health, fitness, and wellness products and services all gathered together to help attendees achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle. We had hundreds of visitors at the Blue Nose booth, and many of them registered to participate in this year’s marathon weekend.

We also held a prize draw and we’re pleased to announce the winner is Marilyn Rushton. She will receive complimentary event registration, a pasta village ticket, water bottle, our event t-shirt and a great tote bag. Congratulations, Marilyn!

We’ll be out and about in the community over the coming months, and we’ll have details on when and where you can find us in upcoming newsletters, and on our website.

back to top