Club Scene
The Cape Breton Road Runners, N.S.
The Cape Breton Road Runners Club is a super social life,” says Karen Campbell. “At our end-of-season party, everyone’s hugging and high-fiving – it’s almost silly how much we appreciate each other,” Campbell laughs. She joined the club eight years ago and now can’t imagine not having it in her life. “It’s the most supportive running community a person could ask for.”
Active since the late 1970s, in the last decade the club has evolved from a dozen or so mostly male runners into a now vibrant, bustling club of women and men of all ages across an entire spectrum of careers.
“One year, more than a thousand different people ran at least one Road Runner race that season,” says club president Chris Milburn, who ran his first race in 1984. He attributes the boom to several factors including many Learn to Run programs and also the snowball effect of just getting more people running the streets. “It normalizes being a runner here – which wasn’t the case even 10 years ago.” The club hosts on average 15 races a season, from 5ks to half- and full marathons, which are part of a point series. There’s a set Tuesday evening run led by Milburn which varies from hill repeats to track intervals. In an area where many leave to find jobs elsewhere, Milburn says running is a magnet. “A number of young people have told me they wouldn’t stay in Cape Breton if it wasn’t for the running club.”
The point series keeps the competitive edge forefront, but the even stronger component is the camaraderie. With fun runs peppered throughout the season, including the Pumpkin Run, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Run and, of course, regular beer nights. Born out of local demand, there’s even a winter half-marathon. Six years ago, after a bus load of Cape Bretoners made the five-hour trek to Halifax for a February half-marathon, the interest was evident. The JJ McDermott Long John Jaunt Half-Marathon is now gearing up for its fifth year. “It’s good to have a goal at that time of the year,” says race director Cyril MacDonald. At age 22, MacDonald started running just two years ago, inspired to do so after several years volunteering for the big local fall event, the Cape Breton Fiddlers Run. With a marathon already under his belt, he hasn’t looked back.
From novice to veteran runners, the club comprises all levels of ability. Road Runners have competed in races the globe over, including the Boston Marathon, Cancun, Switzerland, England, Hawaii, Toronto, New Zealand and Germany. Many of the runners also compete in triathlons all over the world.
“If I had to pay for the elite advice and training, I probably couldn’t afford it,” says Campbell. “From sneaker recommendations to training schedules, it’s all part of it.”
The Road Runners are also fostering the next generation in their Kids Running Series – offering eight races for kids throughout the season. In its sixth year, the series has developed dedicated young runners who now participate in the adult runs. “There’s lots of promising young runners who now have running as a lifelong passion,” says Milburn.
Not surprisingly, runners say their favourite part of the club is the people. “The group motivation of the club makes you a better runner, and also makes you happier,” says Milburn. “It’s a non-threatening, supportive group who are always excited for the accomplishments of other members” says Campbell. “We’re together doing something really positive.”
Norma Jean MacPhee’s work has appeared on the CBC, in Triathlon Magazine Canada, Progress Magazine and Saltscapes. She’s also a runner, swimmer and cyclist living in and loving Cape Breton Island.