Seeking redemption on streets of Winnipeg

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This article was published 16/06/2023 (866 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Completing the full Manitoba Marathon or choosing to finish the half is mighty impressive — but for some participants the stakes are higher.

The half-marathon event Sunday is the Canadian national championship event. Manitoba has hosted the national championship each year since 2019.

It draws some of the finest runners from across the country who met the qualifying criteria in 2022.

“It’s basically the cream of the crop,” said Kirstin Parker, technical director of the Manitoba Marathon.

Parker said while there are some elite athletes in the 42.2-km marathon event, the half-marathon is an even bigger draw. It provides runners the opportunity to accumulate points from Athletics Canada which will help them attempt to qualify for future world tournaments and Olympic games.

One competitor is hoping to use the race to get some Olympic redemption.

Dayna Pidhoresky was thrilled to qualify for Team Canada and compete in the full marathon at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, however, some unfortunate circumstances led to a disappointing time in the spotlight.

“The Olympics for me was a complete disaster,” said Pidhoresky, from Tecumseh, Ont.

She picked up an injury in the weeks leading up to the Olympics and then, upon arriving in Japan, was deemed a close contact for COVID-19 and had to isolate until the day of her race.

Pidhoresky finished the marathon, but the experience was far less than ideal.

“I felt like I wasn’t able to even have an Olympic experience because I wasn’t able to be with my teammates and that would have at least made things I think a little bit better. Instead, I was injured and depressed and super sad,” she said.

Now, Pidhoresky has her sights set on the Paris Games in 2024.

“I just really feel like I need Olympic redemption, so the next year going into Paris is really a huge focus for me,” she said, adding her ’23 calendar is full as she works on the mental and tactical side of racing. Part of that is running half marathons to prepare for full marathons.

“Last year, I only raced three times. So, my goal for this year was to race more and get more comfortable with racing,” said Pidhoresky. “A national championship (in Winnipeg) is a great time to work on those racing tactics and the mentality of racing and, hopefully, it will help set me up for a good fall when I try to go after the Olympic standard again.”

The Olympian enjoyed running the 21.1-km course at the Manitoba Marathon a few years ago and jumped at the chance to return.

“I raced Winnipeg the first time it was the national championships, that must have been 2019, and I had a great experience there. So, I thought, ‘You know, maybe give it another go,’” she said.

Meanwhile, Manitoba’s own Daniel Heschuk could barely contain his excitement for the upcoming Father’s Day half-marathon.

“I have always really enjoyed the event, it’s always been exciting,” said the Neepawa product. “When I started running the Manitoba half-marathon back in 2013, basically every year I was around and available to compete, I always have.”

Heschuk, who ran with the University of Manitoba Bisons track team until 2019, finished in the top five in the half-marathon four years ago and again in last year.

The opportunity to run against premier Canadian competitors isn’t lost on him.

“I think for me it means that we are bringing in some really, really fantastic people and really, really fantastic competitors,” he said.

“It’s extremely, extremely special to be running at home. I’ll have all of my teammates, my friends, my family out there cheering me on the course.”

In all, 8,000 participants will be near the start line on Chancellor Matheson Road (U of M campus) for the 7 a.m. start.

The forecast for Sunday morning is 17 C with a partly sunny sky.

donald.stewart@freepress.mb.ca