Chaleur 10km - Beresford

Coming soon...

Paula Keating - Miramichi

It's now three in a row. Paula Keating of Miramichi was selected Run NB Female Runner of the Year for the third consecutive year. Keating won over Brenda Guitard of Saint John.

Keating had a remarkable 2011 season, breaking two provincial records. The first came in the Grande-Digue's 15km race, where she shattered the record of Jen Nicholson from PEI and Genevieve Lalonde of Moncton, lowering the former record of 58:27 to a new standard of 57:03.

The second record was the marathon, the 26.2 mile, in Boston where she broke her own record set in 2010 in Detroit of 2:52.14. In Boston she ran with the elite runners in the world and came home with a new standard of 2:47.26.

Keating is the only female runner in New Brunswick to ever break the three-hour marathon barrier and she has done it six times. This is quite remarkable considering that she has only been competing for the past six years.

Three years ago, in her first marathon in New York City she set the New Brunswick record of 2:58:03. She did it again last year in Boston and dropped it to 2:57:53. In late October she won the Detroit Marathon in a time of 2:52.14. The 45-year-old family physician beat her nearest competitor by almost six minutes and took home the first place award of $4,000.

In April of this year her 2:47:26 was another record and then it was back to Detroit in late October for the Detroit marathon with a time of 2:48.53. Three weeks later she couldn't turn down an opportunity of a lifetime and accepted an invitation to run in the New York marathon on November 6th.

"I was a bit nervous it was so close to Detroit but I couldn't pass it up, and will enjoy the thrill" she said. She finished in 2:50.46, less than three minutes off her record in Boston.

In addition she has captured the Miramichi River Runners top female runner of the year six years in a row.

She is an accomplished runner at all the distances with personal best in the mile of 5:17, a 17:23 5km time along with a 36:30 10km. Her time of 29:26 is tops in New Brunswick for the five-mile race and her 1:21:16 half-marathon is the second fastest in the province.

In the NB Run for the Cycle award, which includes the fastest time of the year in the 5k, 5mile, 10k, ½ marathon and the full marathon, Keating has the top score in the female category and is third overall including all men in the province. Only Alex Coffin from Saint John and Lee Roy from Beresford have better times.

In a resent interview she said,"I enjoy both the half and full marathon distances. I enjoy the strategy of the longer races, as well as the training. I feel most comfortable and strongest at these distances, particularly the marathon".

She went on to explain "I seem to be able to maintain a steady pace for a sustained period of time. I enjoy the tremendous sense of accomplishment that running a good marathon brings" she said.

Paula trains 4-5 days per week of running (various types of runs),1-2 days of cross training and at least one rest day every week.

She also enjoys other sports, and loves to both cross-country and downhill ski during the winter months, with golf and biking in the spring to fall seasons.

Rob Jackson - Fredericton

This year's RunNB Male Runner of the Year has met three important criteria for this award, which are Participation, Excellence and Spirit.

Rob Jackson has been a very active runner this season on the RunNB road racing circuit by running 14 Running Room Super Series events.  Rob arrived on the RunNB scene about ten years ago, running 150 plus races over that span.

In 2011, the 55-year-old Frederictonian focused his training by running with the younger UNB cross-country varsity team. Rob went undefeated in his age category (50-59) and finished in the Top 5 in most races. The talented Jackson established two national age class (55-59) records this season. The first milestone achieved was running a 17:27 for 5000m at an indoor track meet in Oromocto, NB. The second national age group record Jackson established in 2011 was in the 5-miler road race, running a time of 28:42 in Hampton, NB. 

During the last ten years, this mild-mannered runner has been an ambassador for the sport of road racing in NB. Rob has also dedicated many hours as a key board member of RunNB.

We congratulate Rob Jackson for his amazing year.

Josianne Guay - Edmundston

Coming soon...

Lee Roy - Beresford

New to running, Lee Roy has demonstrated that he's now one of NB's top male runners. This boxer/runner has competed in over 20 RunNB races in 2011, winning many or finishing in the top three.

In 2012, the Beresford native will be competing in the 30-39 age category.

Phil Booker - Fredericton

Coming soon...

Paulette Stoddard - Saint John

Coming soon...

Heather Shadbolt - Saint John

The dictionary defines a walker as "A person who walks, especially for exercise or enjoyment."

This year's recipient of Walker of the Year walks for both reasons. She came onto the run NB scene in 2005 and has participated in numerous events ever since. In fact, she has done almost every Super Series race in the province as she has been everywhere from St. Isidore to Chipman to Saint-Quentin and parts in between. In 2008 she participated in 17 races and finished third in her age group for the Super Series that year.

In 2010 she decided that she would walk a full marathon. It's one thing to run a marathon but an entirely different type of stamina is required to walk one. She finished under her goal with a smile on her face at Marathon by the Sea that year.

Heather always puts others first as evidenced by her support of a fallen runner this past spring when a runner had fainted on the course. Instead of worrying about her own finish, she made sure the runner had medical support before continuing. This exemplifies what Heather is all about, a kind, caring and considerate person.

This past year Heather walked 5 and 10k races as well as a couple of 5 milers and a half marathon in Portland, Maine with her sister. She is one of only six people to have participated in the Brent Kelly Memorial 5 Miler every year since its inception.

It is with great respect and pride that Heather is awarded the Walker of the Year award for 2011.

Guest speaker / invité: Roly McSorley