Booth Wins Manitoba Marathon Second Year In A Row

Katz completes full course, raises $90,000 for charity

FLORENCE CAPTAIN

DAVID LIPNOWSKI

Last year’s hot and muggy weather was not missed at all, and the cool air was a welcome relief for participants and spectators in this year’s Manitoba Marathon, held on Father’s Day, June 18, 2006. Around 12, 700 spectators came out to cheer on runners in in the 28th annual event. A total of 765 marathoners completed the race.

For the second year in a row, Michael Booth won the men’s marathon in a time of just 2:31:54. On the women’s side, it took Jaydene Reardon just 3:04:10 to complete the full 26.2 miles.

“It feels great to be able to go out and win your hometown marathon,” said Booth, who remained at the finish line until after 1 p.m. to show support for the 100-plus runners he coaches through Stride Ahead Sports both instore, and online.

“Unlike a lot of marathons, it’s a big community event. It doesn’t attract a big elite field, but you get a lot of recreational people and everybody’s kind of treated the same, whether you’re one of the best in the city, or if you’re just a first-time runner.”

The full marathon course of 26.2 miles (or 42 kilometres) began at the U of M’s Max Bell Centre at 7 a.m. and then wound all the way through the city, heading up Pembina Highway and eventually passing through many residential streets — including the Wolseley area, St. Boniface and St. Vital — before eventually finding its way back to the finish line at University Stadium.

One major aspect of this year’s race centered around Mayor Sam Katz, who announced earlier this year that he would be running in the full marathon. Katz, a first-time participant in the 26.2-mile event, completed the full course, crossing the line in an impressive time of 4:37:07.

Katz had fundraised extensively before the race, and indicated that he had raised $90,000, which will be donated to charities such as New Life Ministries, the Andrew Street Family Centre, Rossbrook House and the Manitoba Marathon Foundation.

“I thought it was great [that Katz ran the race], just to bring a bit more visibility to the Manitoba Marathon, and it was great to see how he could raise as much money as he did,” said Booth.