Close to 800 participants of all ages, ranging from first-timers to competitive runners, hit the streets here last weekend for the fourth annual Marden Marathon.
And while final tallies were not available by press time, organizers estimate the April 12 event was the most successful edition to date, raising well over $6,000 for Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus.
“It’s continuing to grow,” said race director Amanda McAlpine. “People just really enjoy the race.”
The course for the event, organized by Elora Road Christian School, starts and finishes at the Royal Distributing Athletic Performance Centre and includes portions of Wellington Roads 30 and 39 and 4th Line, Guelph-Eramosa.
This year, proceeds from the event, which includes a half marathon (21 kilometres) as well as 10km and 5km races and a 1km family fun run, will go towards a digital mammography machine at Groves.
“This is the first year we are donating money to a specific project – and people seemed to like that idea,” said McAlpine.
She was very pleased with this year’s turnout – much higher than the 500 or so that took part in 2013 – and she suspects Mother Nature played a large part in the event’s overall draw.
“Given the winter we had this year, I think people just wanted to get out and enjoy the weather,” said McAlpine.
Prior to this year, the Marden Marathon has raised over $28,000 for the Groves Hospital Foundation and organizers are now setting their sights on the fifth annual event in 2015.
“It’s for the hospital, but it’s really for the community as well,” McAlpine said of the event’s popularity.
“It’s a great cause and the health benefits alone are enough reason to compete … but people just like coming out and taking part.”
Hometown competitor Rob McDonald of Marden finished first in the 5km race with a time of 17:49, while Rob Berg of Fergus was second (18:02).
In the 10km race, London’s Will Jaroszynski finished first (38:46) and Jason Hobson of Fergus came in second (39:44).
Ken MacAlpine of Waterloo was first in the half marathon (1:17:53), while Matthew Ort of Guelph was second (1:20:19). Erin’s Rob Tolman finished fifth (1:23:58).
For more information visit the event website at www.mardenmarathon.ca.
