VALLEY, N.S. — Things didn’t go quite the way Kelly MacKinnon hoped but she still completed the Boston Marathon.
“During the last 18K I wasn’t feeling well but there was no way I wasn’t finishing,” she said. “I did everything you’re supposed to do but I think the humidity was too much for me. After training during the winter, I wasn’t prepared for it.”
She was out in heavy rain and high winds before the start and got chilled. By the time she began running the weather was clearing but the humidity was high. One man passed out in front of her and she stopped to help him.
MacKinnon qualified at the Johnny Miles in 3:31 and was aiming for a similar time. Even though she didn’t feel her best, she completed the marathon in 3:57:58.
“It was my first time running it, but I had a lot of friends who ran it and they gave me tips and advice,” she said. “It was a big thing just to get there and overall the experience was pretty amazing.”
She’s always loved running, competing in track events at school and taking part in her first marathon while in university.
Three years ago, she broke her ankle and now has a metal plate in her leg, but that hasn’t deterred her from running. She’s currently preparing for the Cabot Trail Relay, which will be held May 25-26.
“It’s a 24-hour relay around the Cabot Trail,” she said. “I’ve done it before and people are happy and dress up. There are 17 legs, varying from 12-20K, and I’m doing the last leg this year.”
The final leg includes Hunter’s Mountain, with an elevation of 150 metres, and finsishes in Baddeck.
Teams are made up of 17 runners and some have humorous names. MacKinnon is a member of ‘Got the Runs.’
More information on the relay can be found online at http://cabottrailrelay.com/
“I really enjoy running,” assed MacKinnon. “I don’t find any other exercise feels quite the same. It’s also nice because you don’t have to prepare a lot; you can just throw your stuff on and go when you can. Running is time for myself and it’s a stress reducer.”
