Lee Wesselius of River Glade, N.B., has ventured into the marathon a couple of occasions. After completing as the highest Canadian male on the 2023 Ottawa World Marathon in Would possibly with a completing time of two:18:27, two mins over his private ultimate, the now-veteran marathoner knew he wanted a metamorphosis for the fall window. On Saturday, Wesselius set a two-minute private ultimate on the McKirdy Micro Marathon in Rockland, N.Y., with a time of two:14:39, completing 6th general.
Reflecting on his efficiency, Wesselius shared, “My function heading into the race was once to set a brand new private ultimate. I used to be aiming for a time between 2:13 and a pair of:14, so I’m slightly proud of the result.”
Wesselius discussed that he had won a call for participation for the elite box on the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, however opted for the McKirdy Micro Marathon because of the intensity of the boys’s box and the route’s flat nature. He defined, “I noticed this race again in Would possibly, and I believed I would possibly imagine working there if the sector was once aggressive. Finally, it felt like the appropriate selection, regardless of forgoing the possible prize cash in Toronto.”
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon awards the highest Canadian female and male finisher with CDN $8,000. Home athletes too can probably earn further prize cash in the event that they position within the best 8 general.
Ultimately yr’s Canadian Marathon Championships in Toronto, Wesselius was once the 3rd Canadian finisher, with a time of two:16:51. He says he ran maximum of that 2022 race solo, with the eventual champion, Trevor Hofbauer, and second-place finisher Rory Linkletter, each crossing the end line a number of mins forward of him.
By contrast to Hofbauer and Linkletter, Wesselius is an unsponsored athlete who juggles coaching with a full-time process as a large-animal veterinarian within the Ottawa space. “I most often start my coaching round 5:30-6 a.m., relying on when my first name of the day is available in,” Wesselius stated. “My morning regimen is composed of a 35- to 45-minute run, adopted via an extended 70-minute run or exercise after my workday ends, most often round 4 p.m.”
Wesselius stated that his new private ultimate gave him an important self assurance spice up as he appears ahead to a spring marathon. “I feel I’ve 2:12 within the legs,” he added. “Throughout the second one part of the race, I used to be in a position to overhaul many runners, and I have shyed away from bonking. It was once cool to overcome a couple of guys with sooner private bests.”
Wesselius, 29, was once now not the one Canadian runner to make it into the highest 10. Thomas Toth of Lakefield, Ont., completed tenth, with a career-best time of two:15:57.
Even though Wesselius simply ran a marathon PB, he has a prime motivation to proceed coaching this autumn. “I wish to do any other marathon within the spring, however I’m nonetheless understanding the main points,” he stated. For now, he’s making ready for the Canadian XC Championships in Ottawa in November and the Vancouver First Part in February.