B8

Daryl Steeves

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Remember how your mother always told you not to run in the middle of the street? Well, this weekend all that changes with one of the most unique runs of the season. The 5-km Run/Walk to the Border for Rotary Charities goes Sunday in St. Stephen. This may be the only chance you get to run down the middle of Highway 1 without having to dodge tractor-trailers. The organizers have arranged to use the completed but unopened section of Highway 1 leading to the new bridge across the St. Croix. Imagine fresh asphalt and the freedom to roam all over the road as you sprint or stroll through a great 5-km. You can register online at http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=5018. Come on, make a run for the border, it's for a great cause.

If you are looking for something a little longer Sunday, try the very popular KV Challenge Marathon. This is truly one of the most beautiful marathons you will ever run and one of the very few point-to-point races in Atlantic Canada. Beginning in Bloomfield and winding its way through the Kennebecasis Valley, this run highlights the fall colours like no other. John Kelley and his team have thought of everything with a full marathon, two- or four-person relay, and new this year, the half-marathon. This is one you won't want to miss so check out all the details at http://kvcmarathon.com.

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FURIOUS 5-KM: Last weekend we saw a super-fast 5-km on the Miramichi. No less than five runners went under 18 minutes including the fastest 5-km by a woman this season. It seems only fitting that hometown girl Paula Keating would set the pace after such a great running season. Her time of 17:52 is more than a minute faster than any other woman this year. I can hardly wait to see how fast she runs the New York Marathon next month. Other great times at the Miramichi October 5-km include the winner, John Lyons of Doaktown in 17:28, Paul Thibodeau of Shediac in 17:41 for second and another hometown runner Paul Comeau in 17:48 for third. Congratulations to all the great runners making this a successful season on the Miramichi.

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IMPRESSIVE DAM RUN: We didn't have the results of the Dam Run last week but they are in now and they are very impressive. Dean "Superman" Strowbridge of Willow Grove wanted this one badly. He had been doing a lot of speed work and it paid off with not only a win but a course record in 33:32 for the 10-km. Second place went to Justin Young of Saint John in 35:19 and third place to a name you might remember, Paula Keating of Miramichi in 36:30. The second-place woman was Michelle Roy of Frenchville, Maine in 43:15.

In the 5-km event, 17-year-old Ian Forbes of Fredericton made his mark with a very quick 16:33 finish while 15-year-old Morgan Hawkes, also of Fredericton, took top honours for the women in 20:07. It is great to see more of the young runners making their way to the podium.

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TIP OF THE CAP: This week's Person on the Run goes out to Dean Strowbridge. This unassuming athlete is a real testament to hard work and dedication paying off with his big win at the Dam Run. Dean is one of the good guys, always ready with a word of encouragement to the runners from the back of the pack. He knows what it is like to be out of shape. Ten years ago he was a long way from being a runner with size 44 pants. Today, he looks every bit the athlete he is and is a great role model and a voice of encouragement to all those folks out there giving it a go, no matter what their place in the race. Thanks Dean from all of us at the back of the pack.

Gotta run...

Daryl Steeves is the department head of Allied Health at the NBCC Saint John campus. He writes a weekly column throughout the running season. Visit his website at www.ontherun411.com.