• 29
  May
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The Running Whys – Dean Strowbridge

Long before Dean Strowbridge was racking up victory after victory on the New Brunswick running circuit, he was searching for a fitness forum.

The year was 1996, he wasn’t feeling the best and he decided then and there, he needed a change.

“I actually was going to the Aquatic Centre for general fitness so I could lose weight. I was in a size 40 pants back then,” said Strowbridge, the Willow Grove native who has captured three Run New Brunswick Super Series points titles and three Timex Series titles.

As he participated and made inroads toward achieving his new goals, he enjoyed the new regime. Then, a few years later, Dean and a good friend of his – Cyril Landry – entered the Catch The Bug road race, a 5 kilometre journey in Saint John that produced a time of 29:09. It was a respectable debut but looking at his regular results these days that come in under 17 minutes, that initial time proved to be a far cry from where his potential would eventually take him.

Approximately two weeks after he caught the running bug with Cyril, Dean got an invite from a stranger.

It was in June of 2001 and the rest, as the old sports cliché goes, is history.

“A girl by the name of Trina Goguen asked me if I wanted to go for a run, so I said yes and then decided that I wanted to try to finish a 5-miler at Marathon By The Sea,” Dean says. “Trina and I have been running together ever since. Oh yeah, I never knew Trina when she asked me to go for a run.”

Even now, as he ranks as one of the favourites in this year’s 20^th anniversary of the Emera Marathon By The Sea’s (MBTS) half marathon, a race he’s finished second five times in the past, Dean remembers the early days on the roads.

“It amazes me sometimes that I’m even where I’m at today when I think about where I was,” he said. “I still keep a big picture of me on the fridge (from 1996) beside a picture of me now, just so I don’t forget where I was and where I’m at. It keeps me humble and keeps me grounded.”

His first win came in June of 2005, when he clocked a 17:09 to win the Do it For Dad Father`s Day race. Trina, his running partner, was seventh.

He captured the New Brunswick Timex Series crowns in 2008, 2010 and 2011 while winning his age division in the provincial Super Series in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Last season, he won the Fredericton half marathon, the YSJ Airport 10 k and Saint Andrews 5-miler, was the top male in his age division in every race he entered and was no worse than fourth overall in any of the seven NB Super Series races he ran.

In 2014, he has capturedthe YSJ Airport 10k and was second in the 13k Lorneville Loop.

“I couldn’t have ever dreamt that I would’ve put up the times that I have or that people would consider me one of New Brunswick’s best,” Dean said when asked about his success. “I am honored and very fortunate that I’m in the position that I’m in. I’ve really enjoyed the journey and hope there are lots of miles left in these legs. I’ve had lots of help along the way such as Trina Goguen, Daryl Steeves, Alex Coffin and Gilles Gautreau. They’ve all had a big impact in my running and I am very thankful to have them help me over the years.”

He will be busy this summer, like many, racing in various events but, he is focusing on MBTS.

There is the elation and positive atmosphere associated with the crowds in town for the Aug. 8-10 MBTS event, but he would like to finally get a win in the half after coming so close, so many times.

“ It’s funny but the last five years that I ran this race; I’ve come second all five times, to five different men. It’s always been one of the big races for me each year and I think that Mike Doyle and Patrick Grannan do a wonderful job with it.”

He enjoys the training, logging the miles, dealing with the various weather conditions that add to all the challenges. But he also enjoys meeting and training with others, watching their progress and celebrating afterward.

“Running takes a lot of work and dedication but when you’re passionate about it, you’ll put the work in,” he said. “The best thing I love about running is that no matter how fast we are, we can all take the time to run together.”

• 28
  May
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The Running Whys – Joy Durdan

As Emera Marathon By The Sea celebrates a special anniversary this year, Joy Durdan of Grand Bay-Westfield, one of the race’s most faithful participants, wouldn’t miss it for the world.

For Joy, MBTS is the continuation of a long love affair with the sport that started in 1999, when shortly after her son entered kindergarten, she decided to take a big step and move to running from walking.

The preferred site was the Irving Nature Park and it was there – 15 years ago – that she taught herself how to run.

Now, on the eve of the 20^th running of Marathon By The Sea (MBTS), Joy has not looked back, capturing the runners high early and thriving on it since.

“Running is my passion,” says Joy, who has run some distance in every MBTS since she entered the half marathon in 2001. “I am not a fast runner, I am middle of the pack. I love the accomplishment of every finish line I cross….and of course, I love my medals (bling )!”

Marathon By The Sea represented Joy’s first big race that summer 13 years ago, and she fell in love with the location, crowds, setting, and time of year – everything really.

It’s developed into an annual tradition, one that takes prominence on her personal fitness calendar.

“I am really looking forward to the 20th anniversary of this event,” she said. “From 2001 to 2010, I did the half every year, in 2011 and 2012, I ran the full marathon and last year, I did the half again. This year, I will be doing the half or the full again. I have not decided the distance yet, but will soon because I want to get in for the early bird registration.”

The consistent leg work provided ample motivation to take part in other races and in 2013, she fully committed to the Run NB Super Series, where she finished second in the province in the 40-49 age group, racking up almost 700 points in a whopping 24 events spread across the New Brunswick.

She also participated in seven other events, including the MBTS performance on that brilliant August morning a year ago, one of six half marathons on her rewarding, albeit congested 2013 schedule.

“I have an amazing coach – Daryl Steeves,” she said. “I run the track at UNBSJ every Tuesday and the speedwork really helped my speed last year. (Many people will recognize Daryl) who  has been the emcee at MBTS many times, and he does a great job.”

As her love for the sport advanced, so did her appreciation for its benefits.

“When I got started, I discovered that not only does running help with keeping healthy, (and being able to eat lots of yummy foods), it really helps me deal with anxiety,” she said. “I meditate as I go out on long runs. It is my escape and makes me refreshed. I love those endorphins! I am hooked on the feeling I get every time as I cross that finish line.”

She finished her 24th half marathon recently at the Bluenose Marathon in Halifax and is planning to race another in Miramichi in June.

Then, depending on her preference – and preparation – she will decide on what distance to compete at in Saint John.

Joy Durdan, right, celebrates with a friend in the finish area following the 2013 Marathon By The Sea.

“It’s my 14th time running Marathon by the Sea, and I still get that nervous, but wonderful energy and excitement as I did the very first time I entered the road race.

“The route at MBTS has changed several times over the years that I have ran it. My favorite year was 2004, when we ran over the Harbour Bridge. It was also my personal best of 1:45. My times range from 1:45 to 2:17 but each finish is a victory, and a celebration of good health and accomplishment.”

Aside from the training miles, dedication and personal commitment, Joy also craves the environment at the end of the race, where so many runners celebrate months of sweat with the reward of personal bests or the accomplishment associated with finishing a major goal.

“It is so great to see people cross the finish line, no matter their age, or physical /athletic ability,” she said. “Every day athletes are amazing, they inspire me to keep going, and in turn, help me inspire other people. No matter how fast or slow each finisher completes the race, we have all ran the exact same distance, and we are all champions.”

• 27
  May
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Marathon By The Sea Stories Preview

The countdown is on to the 20th running of Marathon By The Sea as already high enthusiasm levels have been sparked by the improving temperatures and the 2014 running season, now in full swing across the province.

This year, to help celebrate this special edition of Marathon By The Sea, we will feature a number of stories from runners of all levels and abilities who will be competing in the various divisions during the weekend of Aug. 8-10.

For example, we will learn of one man who was inspired about MBTS after reading the results of the inaugural race in the newspaper. He was so enthused, he vowed to improve his fitness levels and in doing so, he has competed in every MBTS since.

Another woman, who will run the half marathon this summer, credits her sister for a gentle nudge to take up the sport after last year’s MBTS and by extension, the move has saved her life.

You will also read how another woman took up the sport when her son was in kindergarten and was immediately hooked. This year, she will run the race for the 14th time and feels as joyful, and nervous, now as she did the very first time she entered the event.

You’ll read about how one of the province’s top performers keeps an old picture of himself on his fridge door to remind himself of how far he has come since he took up the sport.

And another man details his experience at MBTS last year, which he called the greatest running event of his life, a career well decorated with leading training runs and participating in marathons and ultramarathons. This just four years after he received a pacemaker that allowed him to continue his love for the sport.

And many more.

The series will start tomorrow and be featured on our website and Facebook page as well as the blog of Kevin Barrett, the volunteer coordinator for this series. It will continue with regular updates right up to the race weekend.

Enjoy.