Over 1400 racers from across the province experienced excruciating pain and unbridled joy at the biggest ever County Marathon. There were 2540 participants overall, setting a new record.

Racers gathered for a full marathon, half marathon, 5k run, and relay marathon on Sunday. Even the little ones got in on the action with a one-kilometre fun run.

“The community support was fabulous, this year the volunteers were outstanding, everything is coming together and looking brighter for the future,” said the race’s Director, Brian McLean.

The three fastest racers of the day finished in scorching time. Curtis Gellatly finished the 42 kilometre course beginning in Wellington and ending at the Crystal Palace in Picton in 2:41:12.9. Alex Wallace came in four minutes behind Gellatly at 2:45:49.2 seconds. Guillaume Williams rounded out the top three 2:48:29.3. And the big local news is that Wellington’s own Rhys Agombar crossed the finish line in fourth place, at 2:53:02.4. Tyler Hulan was last and most certainly not least: he was the final runner to cross the finish line, with incredible resolve and a time of 6:22:44.4.

Val Robb was the first woman across the line with a time of 3:05:25.9, Raye McAvoy crossed five minutes later at 3:10:14.4, and Sarah Phillips claimed bronze at 3:23:33.9.

From Wellington to Boston

Mr. Agombar beat his personal best by five minutes, especially significant because the County Marathon is an official Boston Marathon qualifying event. His time, while not an automatic qualification, is three minutes faster than the last person to qualify for the 2025 Boston Marathon.

Agombar hit the mark, and he knew it.

“Boston. Qualified,” he said, after gathering himself at the finish line. “Last year I got 2:57, I think I’m around 2:52. The cut off last year was 2:55:00. This puts me in the running at least.”

Training in the heat of Saudi Arabia may have given him the edge he needed.

“It’s like poor man’s altitude training, when you train in high temperatures. Your body becomes hyper efficient at cooling itself, then when you run at cooler temperatures, you conserve more energy so you can run faster.”

Whether it was the energy boost, the home course advantage, or the hours of time spent in preparation, the personal best had the local smiling ear to ear as he crossed the finish line.

“It’s amazing. You’re running, and everything in you is dying. You’re thinking, am I going to be able to do this? Is all of this pain just for nothing? Then you see the times and you think, yeah, it was all worth it.”

A total of 446 runners completed the full marathon. Two hours in, half-marathon runners joined the fray. They ran 21.1 kilometres, and like the marathon runners, enjoyed scenery unique to the County Marathon.

“All of the other ones we’ve run are in the city. The scenery is just beautiful. At one point we were running beside Lake Ontario. It’s just different. It has more of a hometown feel. Everyone is cheering each other on, it’s a little smaller scale, it’s perfect,” said Erin Simpson, who completed the half marathon.

The half marathon brought in 1026 participants. Julie Compton won gold in the women’s half marathon, coming ninth overall with a time of 1:23:24.6, Jasmin Aggarwal took home silver at 1:24:15.1, and bronze went to Christine Cash who finished with a time of 1:26:09.3.

Nathan Colburn was the fastest to finish the men’s race at 1:14:30.2, Maynard Graiden was right on his tail at 1:16:55.7. Kyle Harding crossed third, four minutes behind the pace setter at 1:18:20.5.

But for many of the marathon runners, the result is not what matters. Just fighting through every muscle in their body begging them to stop and going the distance is enough.

“I’m not a runner at all. That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My legs started to cramp with three kilometres left. I thought I was going to collapse. It’s just such a huge challenge, then when you cross the finish line, you get such an adrenaline rush,” said Slobodan Teodorovic.

Some collapsed as they crossed the finish line, others lay in the shade getting treatment. Runners limped in recovery, and a really unlucky few had bad muscle spasms. Yet if you asked them, they all said the same thing.

“This is the favourite marathon I’ve ever run. It’s such a beautiful course, honestly. I’m hoping to make it an annual thing coming back,” Mr. Agombar said.

Hailed as Canada’s Best Kept Secret, it would seem the word has gotten out on the County Marathon.