Rapport annuel 2007

Run New Brunswick (RunNB) continues to operate as a committee of Athletics New Brunswick (ANB) and is comprised of a Chairperson (Phil Booker), Vice-Chairperson (Robert Jackson), Treasurer (Paul Lavoie), Secretary (Nadine Currie Jackson), Race Coordinator (Gilles Gautreau), Policy Advisor (Daryl Steeves) and Event Advisor (Mike Doyle). RunNB operates on an annual budget of approximately $15,000.00, receiving revenue from race participants, and spending funds to produce a yearly race booklet, maintain a website, provide liability insurance coverage for runners and race organizers, supply bibs and a race clock to events, and award prizes to competitive and recreational runners.

On May 10, 2007 RunNB produced and began distribution of 1000 copies of the Road Racing Calendar booklet, listing 40 events from April 28 to November 4, 2007. Each listing included significant information about the event, in many cases showing course record-holders. One race was added to the website roster during the year, bringing the total number of races in 2007 to 41.

Road races operated under the banner of RunNB in 2007 at distances ranging from one mile to 42.2 kilometers, and were hosted in 25 different communities, from St. Quentin and St. Francois in the north, to Grand Bay, Grand Manan and Saint John in the south. Saint John was the hotbed of road racing events in 2007, playing host to 9 of the 41 events during the year.

Races attracted varying numbers of runners. At the Walk of Life on May 27, just 17 competitors participated in the event. The Marathon By The Sea on September 23 attracted 954 runners in all events. The Legs for Literacy event in Moncton on November 4 saw 931 runners participate. The Fredericton Marathon hosted 758 runners on May 13.

Approximately 7522 participants ran in the 41 RunNB events in 2007 for an average of 183 runners per event. This compares with total numbers from previous years as follows:

2006 – 7400 runners
2005 – 6500 runners
2004 – 5300 runners

The number of runners at most events increased in 2007, offsetting a decrease of 284 runners at Marathon By the Sea (a 23% drop) and offsetting the 2006 conclusion of the Tim Horton’s Run Through History, in which 495 runners competed last year.

Starting in 2007 RunNB entered into a three-year contract with the Alex Coffin Fitness Shop under which our 27 Superseries events operated under the banner of the “Alex Coffin Fitness Shop Superseries”. Runners accumulated points within their age category, and standings were updated after each race on the website, enabling runners to track their progress and engage in friendly competition for points. This year, 43 women and 72 men competed in 4 or more ACFS Superseries events. This compares with 29 women and 59 men who competed in 4 or more Superseries events in 2006. The 2007 alliance with the Alex Coffin Fitness Shop replaced the previous sponsorship with Running Room, and proved to be a significant benefit for runners, with Alex Coffin himself attending and participating in more than a dozen events.

RunNB also encouraged competitive runners in the “Timex” series of 7 races. The top three male and female finishers in each Timex event earned prize money that was awarded at each event. In 2007 the top female in the Timex series was Nancy Burkhart, while John Herron was the winner in the men’s standings. A total of $1,470.00 in prize money was awarded in 2007, courtesy of Timex.

2007 was the second year for the RunNB Provincial Championships in the 5K, 8K, 10K, 21.1K and 42.2K distances. The top three finishers overall in each of those five events received prize money, with the male and female winners being crowned provincial champion. A total of $1800.00 in prize money was awarded in 2007 in the Provincial Championship events. In all, 37 individual runner received prize money from RunNB in 2007.

In 2007 RunNB introduced the “Aliant Futures Series”. This project, sponsored by Aliant, encouraged race directors to hold events for boys and girls 14 years of age and under, at distances from one kilometer to three kilometers. Through the assistance of Aliant, RunNB supplied race bibs and finisher medals, free of charge, to all races hosting an Aliant Futures Series event. RunNB also gave a reduction in the adult day fees payable by the race organizers, if an Aliant Futures Series event was included. This project was a huge success, resulting in 1328 boys and girls running in RunNB events in 2007.

On July 14-15, 2007 RunNB co-hosted a course measurement workshop in Saint John featuring Bernie Conway, Chief Certifier for Canada.  Congratulations to Tom Reddon, Roy Nicholl, Kim Trethewey, John Kelley and Mike Power for successful completion of the workshop.

Many thanks go to each of our committee members, who continue to devote many volunteer hours to help RunNB better serve the NB running population. Also, at the heart of running in New Brunswick are the many race directors and numerous volunteers who make each race possible. RunNB acknowledges and expresses its appreciation to all of these volunteers, who make it possible for road racing to thrive in New Brunswick.

A RunNB financial summary for 2007 is available upon request. Please contact Rob Jackson at rjactm@nb.aibn.com