Media Release
This year looked a little different due to COVID restrictions, wave starts and little fanfare but it was still an absolutely amazing weekend.
It started early Saturday September 18th with registration at 6 am, then the Marathon and Marathon Relay started in two waves at 7 am followed by several waves of ½ Marathoners between 7:30 and 7:45 am.
As per usual, the racers showed amazing grace, tenacity and speed. For the first time in the race’s five year history a woman won overall: Arianna Vegter of Meaford finished in 1:53:36.6 followed by local runner Will Francis at 1:56:35.2 for the top female and male ½ Marathon places respectively.
The women dominated the ½ Marathon field out-numbering male competitors 32 to 18. Among those 18 male competitors was local running legend Doug Barber who at age 75 completed the technical half-marathon course in 3:39:50.9.
The Marathon Relay Team category was won by Bruce Ski Club members (Dave White and Brian Dubeau), the heavy favourites given their 4-year first place track record. With the different course they made a strategic choice of splitting the course evenly which meant Dave had to run the first and last legs which worked for them as they finished in under 4 hrs.
The solo Marathon category was won by Steve Kenny with a time of 4:33:15.8.
Sunday was also an early morning with a chilly but beautiful boat ride courtesy of Blue Heron Cruises to Flowerpot Island for the 5 km run (~ 2 laps of the Island trail, with some extra shoreline sections).
Top prize went to Jack VanDorp with a time of 25:43.3. The top female finisher was Melissa Schyff at 41:39.9. This year’s breakfast was back on the mainland courtesy of the Hungry Hiker.
Congratulations to everyone who raced and thank you for participating in the event and supporting our beneficiaries – Tobermory Primary Place Daycare and The Friends of Bruce District Parks.
We owe huge thanks to our wonderful volunteers and sponsors – Parks Canada, The Blue Heron Company, Peacocks Foodland, The Bruce Anchor, Remax Grey Bruce Realty Inc. Brokerage, The Hungry Hiker, Tobermory Press, The Sweet Shop, Crowsnest Pub, Princess Hotel, Peninsula Bruce Trail Club, Divers Den and Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, we could not have these fun events without you.
See https://tobermorytrail.wordpress.com/ for details about next years race.
