CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Michelle Brenton grew up involved in a number of sports.
She took swimming lessons and did synchronized swimming at the YMCA in Charlottetown and got involved in field hockey and basketball. She was named Sport P.E.I.’s all-around female athlete of the year in 1983, competed in field hockey at the 1985 Canada Games in Saint John, N.B., and was a second-team all-Canadian while playing field hockey at UNB.
But ever think of running 42.195 kilometres?
“Nope. Never,” she said Thursday night.
“I always said I don't like running that much. I don't want to run that long, but the seed got planted and here I am three days out. So never say never.”
Brenton, a month away from turning 53, will run her first marathon Sunday as the P.E.I. Marathon begins at the Brackley entrance to P.E.I. National Park and winds its way into downtown Charlottetown.
The Charlottetown native now lives in Hampton, N.B., and teaches physical education at Dr. A. T. Leatherbarrow Primary School, a kindergarten to Grade 2 school in Hampton, located about a marathon run away from Saint John, N.B.
Brenton got involved in multi-sport events later in life after having her family. She was introduced to triathlon in 2010 and completed her first Island race, the Dalvay duathlon, the following year.
“I know part of the marathon race route goes along that Dalvay shore. That is going to be emotion for me,” she said.
Brenton began training with Nicky Scott about four years ago and the duo is now looking at doing an ironman, a combination of a 3.86-kilometre swim, 180.25 kilometres on a bike and a 42.195-kilometre marathon.
“She has committed for sure for 2020. I’m still on the fence,” Brenton said of the ironman. “We decided in June of this year that we needed to do a marathon just to mentally prepare our minds that, yes, our bodies could cover that distance.”
They decided to do a fall marathon after their triathlon season was completed.
“I said P.E.I. was the one for me because I did my first half marathon in 2014. This is my fifth anniversary and I’m returning to tackle the full,” Brenton said.
She said 2014 was special, running past landmarks and seeing familiar faces – both runners and volunteers – along the route.
There are many different reasons people get involved in the marathon weekend.
Race director Myrtle Jenkins-Smith has heard a number of stories. Some people want to improve their physical or mental health while others are doing it in memory of loved ones.
It can make for emotional moments as participants cross the finish line.
“You see a lot of tears shed and tears for many different reasons,” Jenkins-Smith said. “We encourage all Islanders to come out and cheer these folks on.”
There were times during the past few months when doubt crept into Brenton’s mind.
She remembers thinking what had she signed up for during a 30-kilometre run early in their training.
But having Scott there helped her persevere.
“We talk each other to the top of the hill and over the crest,” she said, noting the importance of a supportive family.
Scott and Brenton haven’t set time targets for Sunday but know one thing – it will be the same.
“The goal is we’re starting together, we’re running together, we’re finishing together,” Brenton said.
P.E.I. Marathon
What – This is the 16th annual marathon weekend in Prince Edward Island. An estimated 2,500 participants will take part in one of the 12 different categories. There will be people from every province, about 30 United States and numerous countries around the globe.
Today – The Kids Fox Trot presented by Sobeys Extra and The Guardian takes place today beginning at 10 a.m. with onsite registration at the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place track. It is a free event for kids up to age 14. The warmup is set for 10:45 a.m. with the first heat (ages six to 14) running two laps at 11 a.m. The second heat (ages five and under) do one lap at 11:15 a.m.
Sunday – The Grant Thornton full marathon begins at 8 a.m. just past the Brackley Beach complex in the Prince Edward Island National Park. Most of the other races start in downtown Charlottetown about an hour later.
Volunteers – Race director Myrtle Jenkins-Smith said 300 people will volunteer for the event. “This could never happen without them,” she said.
Online – peimarathon.ca
Looking back
The male and female winners of the P.E.I. Marathon for the past 10 years.
2018
Stan Chaisson, Bear River 2:34:40
Amber Spriggs, Charlottetown 3:11:29
2017
Stan Chaisson, Bear River 2:35:24
Jocelyn Peterson, Charlottetown 3:18:51
2016
Stan Chaisson, Bear River 2:41:14
Jen Nicholson, Cornwall 3:04:42
2015
Jamie Lamond, Halifax 2:41:58
Marcie Holland, Saint John, N.B. 3:16:46
2014
Kris Taylor, New Glasgow 2:43:29
Erin MacNeill, Dartmouth, N.S. 3:20
2013
Kris Taylor, New Glasgow 2:41:28
Jen Nicholson, Cornwall 3:00:15
2012
Mike MacKinnon, Miscouche 2:37:55
Helga Reisch-MacNeill, Kensington 3:14:45
2011
Mike MacKinnon, Miscouche 2:43:19
Kathy Wilson-Armitage, New Maryland, N.B. 3:18:45
2010
Scott Clark, Linkletter 2:44:42
Rhonda Loo, Whitecourt, Alta. 3:04:21
2009
Stanley Chaisson, Bear River 2:32:58*
Jen Nicholson, Cornwall 2:53:22*
*Race records
