2010 Annual Report

Run New Brunswick is a committee of Athletics New Brunswick and is comprised of a Chairperson (Gilles Gautreau), Treasurer (Paul Lavoie), Policy Advisor (Daryl Steeves) and Event Advisor (Mike Doyle). This was the third consecutive year in which Adam Stacey was employed in the paid position of Executive Director.

RunNB operated in 2010 on an annual budget of approximately $15,000.00, and received revenue from race participants and sponsors. Funds were used to produce a yearly race booklet, maintain a website, provide liability insurance coverage for runners and race organizers, supply bibs and a race clock to events, and award prizes to competitive and recreational runners.

RunNB produced and distributed 1000 copies of the Road Racing Calendar booklet, listing 50 events from April 11 to October 30, 2010. Each listing included significant information about the event, in many cases showing course record-holders.

Road races operated under the banner of RunNB in 2010 at distances ranging from one mile to 42.2 kilometers, and were hosted in 37 different communities. Saint John hosted 7 of the 50 events during the year, more than any other community.

Races attracted varying numbers of runners. Just 6 competitors participated in the Cst. Bruce Hadley Relay Half Marathon. The Legs for Literacy event in Moncton attracted 1583 runners in all events.

The season having concluded on October 30, 2010, 8426 runners have participated in RunNB events in 2010 for an average of 168 runners per event. The 2010 total of 8426 compares with total numbers from previous years as follows:

2009 - 7900
2008 - 7200
2007 - 7500
2006 - 7400
2005 - 6500
2004 - 5300

In 2010 RunNB began a three-year sponsorship contract with the Running Room, and continues to explore opportunities for additional sponsors for its programs.

The "SuperSeries", under which runners accumulate points within their age category, is updated after each race on the website, and has proven to be a significant motivation for many runners. RunNB also encouraged competitive runners in the "Timex" series of 6 races. The top three male and female finishers in each Timex event earned entitlement to funds to compensate them for attending the National Road Racing Championships. In 2010 the top female in the Timex series was Paula Keating, while Dean Strowbridge was the winner in the men's standings.

Provincial Championships in the 5K, 8K, 10K, 21.1K and 42.2K distances took place in 2010 for the fifth consecutive year. The top three finishers overall in each of those five events received prize money, with the male and female winners being crowned provincial champion. A total of $1800.00 in prize money was awarded in 2010 to provincial champions.

The "Kids Live Well" series of races was sponsored in 2010 by Irving Oil. The program is geared towards youth participation in the road races that take place during the RunNB season and encourages race directors to hold events for boys and girls 14 years of age and under, at distances from one kilometer to three kilometers. RunNB supplied race bibs and finisher medals, free of charge, to all races hosting a "Kids Live Well" event.

RunNB continued its partnership with the Miramichi River Runners (MRR), a club that has been organizing its own running series for over 25 years. The MRR organizes 20 events over the course of the year totaling an additional 600 runners that now fall under the RunNB banner. A similar partnership was formed with le Demimarathon de l'Acadie, which has run a half-marathon every month of the year since November 1987. This event takes place in Tracadie-Sheila and has attracted mostly local runners, but since joining RunNB, organizers have indicated that the number of participants has increased.

In November 2009 RunNB held an awards banquet in Moncton, where 150 followers of the 2009 provincial road racing circuit enjoyed an end-of-year celebration. Joe McGuire of Woodstock and Eunice Phillips of Fredericton were inducted into the RunNB Hall of Fame.

Many thanks go to each of our committee members, who continue to devote many volunteer hours to help RunNB better serve the NB running population. Also, at the heart of running in New Brunswick are the many race directors and numerous volunteers who make each race possible. RunNB acknowledges and expresses its appreciation to all of these volunteers, who make it possible for road racing to thrive in New Brunswick.