2023 Annual Report

November 18, 2023

Introduction

This year, RunNB continued to offer quality events to runners on its calendar thanks to the numerous race directors, organizers and their teams.  Our motto, ‘For a Healthier New Brunswick’, is still front and center in the actions that will guide our organisation forward.  RunNB wants to engage the maximum number of runners and walkers in its activities, whether they be competitive runners or recreational runners/walkers and thus help maintain them in good health and fit, both physically and mentally.

1.     Meetings of the Board

The RunNB Board held six Zoom Meetings during the year and took care of daily, weekly business on the Messenger Chat group.  The Board also held two Zoom meetings with race directors and organizers.

The RunNB 2023 Board was made up of 8 members.  Daniel Violette acted as Vice-Chairman in charge of the Super Series and Championship programs; Michel Robichaud filled the role of Treasurer; Nathalie Boivin acted as Secretary; Suzanne Myers, as councillor, Gilles Gautreau was responsible for statistics and our website; Bruce Macfarlane, Annual Banquet, Brian Richard, Hall of Fame and Donald Wade as Chairperson.  Julia Loparco acted as the Executive Director until her departure in September. Gilles accepted the role of interim ED until ANB finds a replacement for Julia. 

2.     Calendar Races

Fifty-eight (58) races, 6 races less than last year, were posted on the RunNB calendar and their results were submitted and posted. 

Table 1 below indicates the number of registered runners in the most common distances, male and female in 2023. (Source : Gaétan Haché, Ottawa)

Count of Athlete
  5K 5K Total 10K 10K Total 21.1K 21.1K Total 42.2K 42.2K Total Grand Total
Age Cat F M   F M   F M   F M    
19&< 184 208 392 29 40 69 5 11 16 2 5 7 484
20-29 160 94 254 122 100 222 109 121 230 16 39 55 761
30-39 266 173 439 238 162 400 179 177 356 24 74 98 1293
40-49 280 143 423 207 131 338 176 155 331 33 47 80 1172
50-59 181 159 340 142 108 250 114 141 255 17 40 57 902
60-69 109 106 215 81 61 142 76 62 138 9 10 19 514
70-79 23 43 66 11 28 39 10 23 33   7 7 145
80-89 2 7 9   4 4   1 1       14
Grand Total 1205 933 2138 830 634 1464 669 691 1360 101 222 323 5285

Table 2 gives you an overview of overall registered runners from 2020 to 2023. (Source : Gaétan Haché, Ottawa)

Count of Athlete
  2020 2020 Total 2021 2021 Total 2022 2022 Total 2023 2023 Total Grand Total
Age Cat F M   F M   F M   F M    
19&< 70 54 124 131 126 257 336 356 692 225 286 511 2790
20-29 26 79 105 119 168 287 406 387 793 435 398 833 3150
30-39 122 114 236 395 313 708 900 676 1576 790 671 1461 6288
40-49 127 179 306 352 341 693 952 649 1601 767 550 1317 6062
50-59 124 242 366 260 375 635 575 658 1233 505 537 1042 5114
60-69 103 168 271 199 291 490 366 372 738 321 294 615 3137
70-79 10 55 65 44 103 147 101 137 238 52 132 184 865
80-89         11 11 1 17 18 3 16 19 81
#N/A 31 24 55                   117
Grand Total 613 915 1528 1500 1728 3228 3637 3252 6889 3098 2884 5982 27604

Special mention:

Two NB runners have each competed in 22 RunNB calendar races so far this year; Silvia Antuna of Tracadie and Timmy Basque of Shippagan are truly great ambassadors of running in our community.  RunNB wishes to congratulate both for their commitment in reaching such an amazing goal and thank them for their sustained support to RunNB races.

3.     The 2023 RunNB Challenge

Ninety (90) participants registered for the 2023 Challenge, but only 79 logged in their kms.  About 65% completed or will complete either the 1200 km, the 2400 km or more than 3600 km distances.  Ten runners/walkers have covered more than 3600 kms.  Five runners have over 5000 km to their credit while Marcelle Breau is the overall winner with more than 6000 km tallied. Her husband, Jean-Marie is not far behind with over 5000 km.  Congratulations to all participants.

4.     Championship and Super Series Programs

Five distances make up the RunNB Championship Program: the 5 km, 5 miles, 10 km, 21, km and 42.2 km.  Cash prizes were offered to the first three positions, female and male.  Ten races were given Super Series status.  The Board decided to combine the 20-29 & 30-39 age categories into one and eliminate the 80+ category due to poor attendance.  The tables 3 and 4 below indicate the number of female and male runners who participated in the 2023 Super Series and Championship programs by age categories.

Table 3.  Super Series races 2023 Female Participation (Source : Gaétan Haché, Ottawa)

# Race Runs 19-Oct 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 G Total
8 Races 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
7 Races 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 4
6 Races 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
5 Races 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3
4 Races 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
3 Races 1 1 1 0 0 2 3 8
2 Races 0 7 12 8 9 3 0 39
1 Races 29 64 129 119 76 34 1 452
Grand Total 30 72 145 129 87 43 4 510

Table 4.  Super Series races 2023 Male Participation (Source : Gaétan Haché, Ottawa)

# Race Run 19&< 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89  G Total
9 Races 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 3
8 Races 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
7 Races 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
6 Races 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2
5 Races 0 0 2 1 2 0 2 0 7
4 Races 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 5
3 Races 1 2 0 3 2 2 1 0 11
2 Races 1 9 12 12 7 9 3 0 51
1 Race 57 93 140 101 87 47 17 1 543
G Total 59 104 155 120 102 62 23 2 625

Table 5. Championship races in 2023.  (Source: Gaétan Haché, Ottawa)

Open Championship Races 2023
  Aug Run For Renee Total Dam Run Total Fredericton Marathon Total Legs for Literacy Total Father's Day 5 Miler Total G Total
Age Cat F M   F M   F M   F M   F M    
19&<   2 2 1   1 1 4 5 1 3 4 2 9 11 23
20-29 3 4 7   2 2 13 24 37 30 44 74 7 6 13 133
30-39 3 4 7 4 1 5 20 49 69 66 54 120 11 13 24 225
40-49 2 8 10 3 2 5 24 35 59 49 38 87 4 13 17 178
50-59 4 8 12 5 5 10 14 31 45 33 33 66 10 22 32 165
60-69 5 7 12 5 5 10 7 10 17 11 18 29 5 11 16 84
70-79 1 2 3   2 2   6 6 2 2 4 1 2 3 18
80-89   1 1   1 1                 1 3
G Total 18 36 54 18 18 36 79 159 238 192 192 384 40 77 117 829

5.     Records

This year, some NB runners have achieved remarkable record performances. 

Lee Wesselius of Riverglade set a new record at the Marathon McKirdy Micro on the Cosp in Valley Cottage, NY, in 2:14:39.

Julia Reid-Howell, Jérémie Pellerin, Grand Handrigan, Jean-Marc Doiron, Paul Gallant and Sasha Hourihan all performed extremely well at various distances of the RunNB race calendar.

6.     RunNB Membership Card

RunNB has presently 172 members.  If you are not a RunNB member yet, we urge you to become one.

Running Room, Sports Experts and Alex & Lilly Shoe Shoppe sponsor the RunNB membership card by offering a 20% discount on running gear bought at regular price.

7.     Sponsors

RunNB is very appreciative of the majors sponsors who contributed financially to the success of our programs.·      

  • The NB Medical Society: $10 000 for medals for Small Strides, Healthy Lives and Super Series
  • Running Room, NB stores: Membership card 20% discount on running equipment
  • Sports Experts, NB stores: Membership card 20% discount on running equipment
  • Alex & Lilly Shoe Shoppe stores: Membership card 20% discount on running equipment
  • Trackie Inc.: Bibs and championship race medals.

8.     Web site, Facebook Page

RunNB’s website and Facebook was kept up to date with the latest news, announcements, articles on races and inspiring stories.  Special thanks to all who contributed in making our social medias attractive, informative and popular sites.

9.     Transgender runners

RunNB had to deal with the transgender issue, as race directors are looking for ways to be inclusive, yet fair to female runners. 

The way forward may include a non-binary, transgender or female and open category for races in order to avoid having women be unfairly deprived of their position in the race results. Hopefully, over time, we will find a proper path forward with a clear policy. RunNB wants to include all runners in its fold regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation.

10.     Strategic Plan for Growth

This document that was prepared in 2018 guided the actions of RunNB up to now.  The Board appointed Daniel Violette to lead an adhoc committee in developing a new plan for the next few years.  He will be calling upon volunteers to form the committee in the months ahead.

11.     Conclusion

The New Brunswick running community is vibrant and healthy.  RunNB will continue to help race directors/organizers in putting on great running events.  RunNB will also help develop new races and running clubs in all corners of the province.

We are very grateful to the race directors and their teams for offering quality events and thus allow runners to put their skills to the test throughout the year. 

We urge runners from all regions of this province to register for and travel to those events.   We have confidence that 2024 will be a great running year with an increase in the numbers for all our programs!

 

Donald Wade
RunNB Chairman