Manitoba Marathon 2019
By Hildeberto Mendonca
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
The Manitoba Marathon, which takes place in Winnipeg, is officially the first marathon I go to with the excuse to visit family. In normal circumstances, these trips tend to be conversational, easy going, but when I put a marathon in the middle, it becomes more exciting, energetic, and positive. It replaces the usual daily problems subjects we have around the table.
This time I was more relaxed than in my previous marathons. That would be my third one, less than a month after my second, which helped me to release my anxiety. I didn't have a goal. I just wanted to have fun.
The race morning was sunny, comfortably cold, dry, just perfect for a long run. The marathon started beside a large football stadium. The starting field was composed of the marathon, half-marathon, and relay runners. We all started together to separate at some point. The course was very scenic, and flat, mostly in neighborhoods and parks. That's what makes this race special. We get huge support from residents throughout the whole course.
After a while in the race, I started noticing that the majority of runners were doing the relay. I saw a huge crowd in the transition spots and I could count with the fingers of one hand the runners that passed through them without stopping. Here goes more special moments. The color of the bib distinguished who was running the full marathon solo and who was doing the relay. So, when I was crossing the transition crowd, they all cheered for me like I was an elite runner.
As always, the last miles are the hardest ones, but I still felt strong enough to run for a new personal best. When I saw the stadium on the horizon I felt a sense of relief and rushed my pace to get it done. Entering the stadium and running in the middle of the field to cross the finish line, gave me chills.
The Manitoba Marathon is very well organized and certainly recommended. I can't promise I will run it again, but it gave me an idea: what if I run a marathon in every Canadian capital city?
Number: 3
Time: 04:07:11
Best Marathon Time to Date: 04:18:12
Elevation: 55 m
More Experiences
The Devil's Key Trail Race 2026
The Devil's Key landed exactly one week after finishing ENDURrun Ultimate 2026, and the days between were not the taper I needed — I spent most of them sick, still fighting off the viral infection that caught up with me during that race. By the morning of the start, at Devil's Glen Country Club in Duntroon, I'd already regretted signing up for The Devil's Key more than once. 66.6km on the Bruce Trail, my second time on this course, was waiting anyway.
The Best Trails in the Waterloo Region
As a trail runner, I have a special relationship with the trails in our region. These is a compilation of the best trails I know.
ENDURrun Ultimate 2026
Some races are not about a single effort, but about stacking one effort on top of another, day after day, until the body and mind have nowhere left to hide. That's the promise of the ENDURrun, now in its 21st edition, a multi-stage race through the Region of Waterloo that challenges runners to cover 160km across 7 stages in 8 days. Unlike the Sport edition I ran in 2023, which totals 80km, the Ultimate edition doubles the distance, pushing closer to a week of racing 100 miles.
Tally in the Valley 12 Hours Night Race
My main goal with this race was to learn how I would feel and what the challenges are of running at night. I also wanted to complete at least 1 lap per hour and cover a total of 80km or more.
Quebec Mega Trail 80 2026
Just like the 50 km I did last year was not a normal 50 km distance we run elsewhere, the 80 km is not a regular one in QMT 80. It is tough. It requires planning, logistics and strategy. That's why I love QMT. It gives the mental preparation to face any other callenges. With proper physical training, nothing else can stop you.