Although this would likely come as a great surprise to each and every runner/walker/jogger who lined up at the start of a series of races hosted via the Sudbury Rocks Marathon on Sunday morning, that group that numbered 1600+ this year are a reporter’s dream.
Truth be told, each and every one of these folks that ranged in age from the very young (especially if you include those who were pushed along in strollers) to the young at heart that constitute that 70 and older crowd represents a unique athletic story, in and of itself.
A native of Barrie who moved to Sudbury in the early 2000’s, Ashley Hayes is now a veteran of the half-marathon scene. Though she only ventured down this pathway some six years ago or so, the registered nurse was looking to embrace a change in lifestyle that helps both her and her family.
It’s a pathway she most likely could not have ventured alone.
“I’m thankful that I found the Sudbury Rocks running community (in 2017/2018) – I’ve been hooked on running ever since then,” noted Hayes, now 40 years old, a mother of three and fresh off her latest 21 km trek covered in 1:48.04 (good for 4th of 20 in her age group). “This running community have become part of my family.”
“They keep me going every week. We’ll push each other, support each other – and not just with running. They are the most wonderful people I have ever met.”
Though her long-term goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon – “I might be closer to 50 years old when I accomplish this” – the four-time marathon finisher was far more “big picture” oriented at the start line on Sunday.
“I honestly did not have a particular goal this year,” said Hayes. “I love being supportive of others, but if I felt good, I was going to push it – and that’s what I did. The main goal for me right now is to just go out and have fun.”
There are, of course, those for whom the event is (hopefully) both fun and competitive – but even in their cases, the history with running is hardly one of linear progression with nary a dip or valley in between.
Twenty-four year-old Grimsby resident Kayla McGowan was the first female marathoner to cross the line, her time of 3:04.26 notably better than her recent tackling of the Boston Marathon for the very first time. “I loved the first km and after that, it was the most painful thing I have ever done,” said McGowan with a smile, with the Sudbury Rocks race increasing her resume to three successful treks of the 26 mile distance.
Safe to say that Sudbury received far more of a thumbs up than Boston did from the young woman who grew up in Jordan (just outside of St Catharines) and who subsequently attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando on a track and cross-country scholarship.
“I loved this course,” said McGowan. “There was a lot of downhills after the uphills. When you were at the top, you would think that you get to cruise to the end of the downhill – and when you got to the bottom, that was another two km that was done.”
Even one of the typical challenges of the Sudbury Rocks Marathon actually favoured the race winner who recalled having visited once before, attending a set of OFSAA Championships in the nickel city. “It was super hot in Boston and there were so many people,” said McGowan.
The field of 65 marathoners in Sudbury would be notably dwarfed by the 30,000 who tackled the grand-daddy of all marathons in Massachusetts in April. “I actually like running alone,” noted McGowan, with a laugh.
Just slightly ahead of her and breaking the three-hour barrier in his first attempt at this distance was former SDSSAA track and cross-country champion Ben Lagadin. Now in his mid-twenties, the graduate of Lively District Secondary School has latched on to his old sport in a highly therapeutic fashion as he nears his mid-twenties.
“I just wanted to get back into running again,” said Lagadin, the third place finisher in the marathon with a time of 2:55.46 (behind only multi-champion Eric Leishman – 2:48.50 and silver medal winner Lucas Jones – 2:52.02). “My dad (Jay) has been into marathons so I thought I would give it a go.”
For as much as folks tried to offer some advice, there are simply lessons that need to be learned the hard way. “I started off too fast,” acknowledged Lagadin. “Starting off at a slower pace, that’s what I would have changed if I could change something.”
That comes after paying the price for his over-exuberance – though thankfully not a price that would deny him a coveted finish in his first attempt. “Running is 90% mental,” said Lagadin. “It’s tough to keep going, especially near the end. I didn’t think the last four kilometres that I was going to finish the race.”
“It took so much mental power,” he added. “And then you come around that last corner with all of the people cheering you on and you get this rush of adrenaline.”
The top female finisher in the 5 km event and fourth place overall, Angela Mozzon was not terribly concerned about her ability to cover the distance – a feat that she accomplished in 18:47 – though the time was better than she expected.
“I was really shocked because I didn’t think I would go under 19:00,” said Mozzon, a just graduated Bachelor of Education major who has decided to return for one final semester at Laurentian, allowing her to complete her fifth and final year of eligibility with the Voyageurs women’s cross-country team.
“Darren (coach Darren Jermyn) told me I was going to, but I didn’t think I would.”
As for the out and back (more or less) course which attracted more than 700 participants, Mozzon is certainly not about to complain. “The big uphill at the beginning is different, but then you have the big downhill in the second half,” she said. “Mentally, you just know that the second half is not as hard.”
Following are the male and female champions that have not already been mentioned above:
Half-MarathonMen – Nicholas Lambert – 1:15.23
Women – Megan Richer – 1:24.13
Lise’s 10 km Run/Walk (Perdue Family)
Men – Aurel Fox-Recollet – 38:58
Women – Kerry Lamarche – 43:29
5 km Run/Walk
Men – Cameron Date – 16:29
8 Person Marathon Relay
Ontario Mine Rescue – 3:31.24
For full results, visit the link at https://www.sudburyrocksmarathon.com/
