Latest news with #BlueNoseMarathon
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Nine-year-old boy runs Blue Nose Marathon with father for cancer research
Just one day after his ninth birthday, Linden laced up his shoes and crossed the finish line of the Blue Nose Marathon, completing the iconic race side-by-side with his father, Carlos Meza. 'At school I just run around and play all the time,' said Linden. The young runner from Nova Scotia spent over a year-and-a-half training toward the 42.2-kilometre feat, gradually building his distance from youth races to 5kms, 10kms and eventually a half marathon. 'He started with the Youth Running Series, and that's about a kilometre-and-a-half for his age,' said Meza , who is also his coach and a certified strength and conditioning trainer. 'He really enjoyed it. And when the Blue Nose came up, we asked if he wanted to run the kids' 2km or 4km, but he wanted to try the 5km. So we said, 'If you really want to, we can train you for it.' And he did.' That first 5km sparked a passion that quickly snowballed. Linden decided to run a full marathon, motivated by a desire to complete the challenge while he was still nine years old. Since his birthday fell on the day before the Blue Nose, he and his father ran a full marathon together on a trail before race day. 'I ran the marathon two weeks before and didn't tell anyone, just ran on my own with my dad on the BLT trail,' said Linden. 'He really wanted to get it done as a nine-year-old,' said Meza. 'As a trainer, it didn't make much sense to run a full marathon before a race, but all signs were showing he was healthy and ready – no injuries, steady growth – and he'd just done 32 kilometres the week before on a tough course.' Meza, who has trained Olympians and endurance athletes for more than 15 years, closely monitored every step of the journey. They brought in a chiropractor to ensure Linden's health was regularly checked, received support from a local sports shop for nutrition, and followed a progressive training plan that emphasized stretching and recovery. 'When you get to marathon distance, you have to do more than just run,' he said. 'We treated his training the same way I would with any serious athlete.' The decision to raise money for cancer research added even more purpose to Linden's mission. 'My grandfather passed away from cancer a year ago and my other grandfather has cancer so I decided to raise money for cancer research,' said Linden. Despite his age, Linden remained focused throughout the rigorous training. 'I was so proud of myself when I crossed the finish line,' he said. Even during the toughest parts of the marathon, his father says he was still smiling. 'In the last 15km of the marathon, he was a happy kid, laughing, making jokes. It turned out to be a perfect day.' As for what's next? That remains uncertain. 'I never try to plan big races right after a big one,' Meza said. 'Let it settle in. He's talked about going further and doing bigger things, but we'll let this one sit for a bit.' Meza also emphasized the importance of youth-led motivation when it comes to endurance sports. 'There are some risks involved in youth doing endurance events, but the research shows it's safe if done right,' he said. 'No pain, no pushing through injuries, and it has to be driven by them, not the parents. Wherever it takes them, that's great. Linden wanted this, and we were just there to support him.' Marathon Linden Meza, nine, ran the Blue Nose Marathon. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
18-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
'Great energy': Rain can't slow runners at Blue Nose Marathon
Social Sharing It was a wet and cloudy day for thousands of runners taking part in the 22nd annual Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax. Halifax's Maksym Pokotylets crossed the finish line with a splash, taking home first place in two hours, 33 minutes and nine seconds. Toronto's Tamara Kwast placed first in her division, and was the first female to cross the finish line, in 2:53:54. For runner Alexandra Quimby, holding her baby, Wally, in her arms was the best part about finishing the race. "It's really fun," Quimby said. "It seems like there's great energy despite the weather." Quimby, originally from Ontario, moved to Nova Scotia last July. This was her first Blue Nose Marathon. She said she and her friend woke up at 5 a.m., ate a bagel and drank some coffee to relax before the race. Quimby placed second in her division and 14th overall, finishing in just under three hours. Dozens of fundraising organizations also took part in the race. More than $250,000 dollars was raised. Bide Awhile, a Dartmouth animal shelter, raised over $12,000. Sam Cole, the organization's communications and marketing co-ordinator, ran the 5K yesterday and the 10K this morning. "I love running, but I love raising the money for the animals even more," said Cole. Cole said the run was a little trickier with the rain. "Shoes are definitely soaked, got a few blisters from the water, and the bridge was a struggle with the wind and the rain, but at the end of the day, it's fun to take part and the energy here makes up for it."
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Halifax's Blue Nose Marathon to close roads, disrupt transit this weekend
The Blue Nose Marathon takes place in Halifax this weekend and the municipality is advising residents to expect street closures, parking impacts and transit disruptions. A full list of street closures is available on the Blue Nose Marathon website, as well as a list of parking bans that will be in effect on Saturday and Sunday. To help reduce traffic, Halifax Transit is offering free bus and ferry services from Friday to Sunday for volunteers with credentials and participants with their race bib. Some bus routes will be detoured during the races, and information on those affected can be found on Halifax's website or by calling 311. The Blue Nose Marathon is expecting thousands of participants and spectators. The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising motorists to drive carefully and allow for extra travel time. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
2025 Blue Nose Marathon to welcome 10,000 runners next weekend
Crystal Garrett speaks with Sherri Robins about the final preparations for the 2025 Blue Nose Marathon.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Sponsored content: 2025 Blue Nose Marathon
Crystal Garrett speaks with Sherri Robins about the final preparations for the 2025 Blue Nose Marathon.
