The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Blue Nose Marathon set for November
Runners rejoice. The Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon will return in the fall.
The largest annual race weekend in Atlantic Canada, which for the most part has been held over the Victoria Day long weekend, is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 6-7 in Halifax.
The 2020 event was originally postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed back to last fall before it was ultimately scrapped.
Sherri Robbins, the executive director of the Blue Nose Marathon, said until public health restrictions have eased, safety protocols like mask wearing and physical distancing will remain in place.
Since its inception in 2004, the Blue Nose Marathon weekend has attracted over 10,000 participants. Robbins expects about 4,000 runners to line up over the two days.
“It will be a smaller version,” Robbins said in an interview Tuesday evening. “We're used to seeing 10,000 people across the two days. We won't be able to handle that volume with COVID protocols in place.
“Everyone wants their events back. We're missing the normality of our lives. With the way the vaccinations are rolling out, that will lend itself to having an event.
We are working on the routes with the municipality and trying to get those lined up. We are getting things done behind the scenes.
"I'm just hoping there isn't a fourth or fifth wave.”
Blue Nose organizers will draw from races like the Harvest Valley Marathon last October and the Night Owl 5K in March in how to accommodate runners and still practise social distancing.
The Harvest marathon — usually held on the third Sunday of October — was spread over three days. The Night Owl, held at Point Pleasant Park, had staggered start times with 150 runners each.
Robbins envisions multiple start times for this fall's Blue Nose.
“The Night Owl was a great example,” she said. “We had 150 people to start. And then enough time had lapsed before another 150 were released so they wouldn't catch up with the first group.
“It all comes down to math.” Robbins stopped short of suggesting that registration — which opens in July — could be restricted to just Nova Scotians or to those who have been vaccinated.
“We haven't talked about that,” she said. “That's a layer of complexity that I'm not sure how we can manage and verify. We do know with outdoors events and COVID protocols such as masking and physical distancing, the likelihood of transmission or COVID spread is extremely low. The way we're looking at it now, I don't think we need to go to that step with vaccination.
“It's also too early to tell if we should restrict registration to just our province or, for example, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. But there are parameters we could put in place if needed.”
In the meantime, Blue Nose organizers will hold a virtual distance run on the Victoria Day long weekend.
Participants will walk or run the distance of their choice (3K, 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full marathon) and then upload their finish time. Runners will receive a digital bib and digital medal and can share their pictures on social media. Registration is free.
“It's all on the honour system,” Robbins said. “We're not monitoring or policing this. It's meant for people to get out and be active.
“When we did this last year, we were in a full lockdown much like where we are today. It was a way to get out. We know the mental and physical benefits of getting out and being active especially during the pandemic.
“We had a lot of fun with it last year and people embraced it.”
An in-person five-kilometre race around Sullivan's Pond in Dartmouth — The Honkin' 5 — has been moved from May 23 to June 27. Like the Night Owl, it will also have staggered starts.