It’s hard to believe that I’ve actually run enough races to have a list of favorites, but somehow, over the course of the past few years, that’s become my reality – and I think that’s pretty exciting! I’m feeling a bit nostalgic tonight so here is a list of my favorite races in the Maritimes and all the reasons why I love them.

1. Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon – This one will always be my favorite because it’s where I first fell in love with running. The Bluenose is by far the biggest race in the Halifax area and the crowds of spectators and the ‘running is for everyone’ attitude that the race promotes really strikes a chord with me. The Bluenose is a weekend long event that includes a fitness expo with tons of great vendors and you can choose to run any of the usual distances ranging from a 5k all the way up to a marathon. They also have a 2km fun run for kids which I think is a fantastic way to get the kiddos hooked on running from an early age. Over the past few years I have completed the 5k (my first ever road race), the 10k, and the half marathon distances. This year I’ve decided that there’s really only 1 distance left to tackle and I’m totally going to do it!

   

    

   

    

2. Maritime Race Weekend – I LOOOOVE this event! It takes place in my neighborhood of Eastern Passage and is always such a blast. The whole weekend is pirate themed and lots of runners get really into the theme by dressing up in pirate attire for the race. The swag and race medals are also my favorite and some of my everyday gear that I wear (my hat, buff, and some of my shirts) are from Maritime Race Weekend. The start line for this race (they too, have all of the various distances that any major race event offers) is nestled in the midst of the cutest fishing village you’ll ever see and the scenery on the race routes is breathtaking. I missed the 2017 event because it happened to be on the same day as my wedding but I will definitely be lined up for one of the distances at the 2018 event. I already can’t wait for this one! Did I mention that they give you free beer when you’ve finished the race?

   

    

   

3. Dartmouth Natal Day 10k Road Race – The annual Natal Day race is a classic and has been happening in Dartmouth since 1907. There’s a real community vibe at this event and you can choose to run a 2 mile or a 6 mile race. Because it’s not a big, weekend-long event with thousands of entrants, it’s also pretty affordable and it’s a lot of fun! P.S – The Natal Day Road Race attracts quite a few of the local elite runners and it’s always fun to see them finish so far ahead of the pack.

   

    

4. The Valley Harvest Marathon – I adore Fall. I love the leaves, I love pumpkins, and I love the Valley Harvest Marathon in Wolfville, Nova Scotia – which also happens to fall on Thanksgiving weekend each year. This event is so much fun! The Fall colors in the valley are worth the drive out there and the race route is beautiful. I’ve completed both the 10k distance and the half marathon at the Valley Harvest and both routes were gorgeous. Their swag is also great. The medals are always creative and beautiful and instead of the usual race swag, I’ve received a bright yellow running jacket and 2 cozy fleece blankets in my swag bags over the years. The blankets are my favorite and are such a great swag idea for a Fall running event. Cross that finish line and then cozy up under a fleece blanky with a free chocolate milk. Life doesn’t get any better than that at a finish line!

   

There are lots of other great races in the Halifax area too, but those 4 are my absolute favorites. Honorable mention should also be given to the super affordable MEC Race Series and to the free Mac Pass Mile race which is a 1 mile (give or take) race across the MacDonald bridge from Halifax to Dartmouth.

P.S – Did I mention that I ran 17km on my training run yesterday? Definitely the farthest I’ve ever run without receiving a medal and a free banana at the end of it. I did get a hot bath and a sandwich though!

Cheers until next time!

Andrea