There were plenty of wet sneakers this morning as runners made their way through slush-filled streets to celebrate the memory of a much-loved coach. One hundred and ten running enthusiasts braved the snow-packed roads of Cow Bay, Nova Scotia to participate in the 23rd annual "Moose Run".
The 25 kilometer road race is one of the first big runs of the season. It was designed as a training run for those heading to the Boston Marathon but this year, the focus was a little closer to home.
“It was a day made for Cliff,” says Tom Harmes, one of the race organizers.
This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of Cliff Matthews. The long-time running coach passed away recently while on a trip to Kenya. Runners gathered half-an-hour before the start of the race to pay tribute to the popular coach.
“It was nice to see so many people running together, remembering Cliff and all the running advice he had given them over the years”, says Harmes.
Race organizers were worried about the recent snowfall interfering with the race. They postponed the event once already but decided to press on with todays’ event, especially because of the tribute to Matthews.
“The sun was shining down all along the course and in many spots the roads were down to the pavement”, says Harmes.
While many runners chose to complete shorter distances, over half finished the full 25 kilometer race. Matt White crossed the finish line first over all with a time of 1:33 and Erin MacLean was the first woman to finish in a time of 1:45.
