Residing and coaching in Halifax, distance runner Maksym Pokotylets isn’t any stranger to the town’s moist, coastal situations, and on Sunday on the 2025 Blue Nostril Marathon, the inclement climate was in full drive. With 3.6 mm of rain and 30 km/h winds, almost 2,000 runners confronted a troublesome day for the marathon and half-marathon distances.
Regardless of the not-ideal situations, Pokotylets got here out on prime in his debut–breaking the tape in 2:33:09. “Given the situations, I selected to start out the race a bit slower than my aim tempo,” Pokotylets mentioned of his technique. “Wanting again, I feel that was the important thing to not blowing up.”
Pokotylets instructed Canadian Working he solely determined to run the Blue Nostril Marathon three and a half weeks in the past. “I had deliberate to race the Vancouver Solar Run in April, however got here down with the flu,” he mentioned. “I knew Blue Nostril was developing and figured, why not?”
Whereas three weeks isn’t very best prep for 42.2K, Pokotylets leaned on his years of coaching in Halifax to hold him by means of. “Fortunately, I had some pals out cheering within the rain, and each time I heard somebody yell, ‘Let’s go Maks!’, it jogged my memory to complete robust,” he mentioned. “I used to be simply grateful for anybody who confirmed as much as race or cheer within the chilly and rain.”
Pokotylets mentioned he didn’t anticipate to get emotional on the end line, however the second caught up with him. “The race confirmed me how highly effective the marathon could be.”
After a break day, he says he’s already again to coaching, with one other race on the calendar this weekend: the Cabot Path Relay. He’ll symbolize Sluggish Ships AC on one of many 17 legs, which Pokotylets already expects to be hilly. “I might barely stroll after Blue Nostril, so I do know Cabot might be a problem,” he joked. “However I feel the motivation from my crew alone can carry me by means of.”
On the ladies’s aspect, Halifax’s Alexandra Quimby was the primary throughout the end in 2:56:36, putting thirteenth total. Initially from Ontario, Quimby moved to Nova Scotia final July—this was her first Blue Nostril Marathon.
“It’s actually enjoyable,” Quimby instructed CBC Information in an interview. “It appeared there was nice power regardless of the climate.”
For full outcomes from the 2025 Blue Nostril Marathon, see right here.
