Lee Wesselius of River Glade, N.B., has ventured into the marathon a number of instances. After ending as the highest Canadian male on the 2023 Ottawa Worldwide Marathon in Could with a ending time of two:18:27, two minutes over his private finest, the now-veteran marathoner knew he wanted a change for the autumn window. On Saturday, Wesselius set a two-minute private finest on the McKirdy Micro Marathon in Rockland, N.Y., with a time of two:14:39, ending sixth general.

Reflecting on his efficiency, Wesselius shared, “My objective heading into the race was to set a brand new private finest. I used to be aiming for a time between 2:13 and a couple of:14, so I’m fairly happy with the end result.”

Wesselius talked about that he had obtained an invite for the elite discipline on the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, however opted for the McKirdy Micro Marathon as a result of depth of the lads’s discipline and the course’s flat nature. He defined, “I noticed this race again in Could, and I believed I’d take into account operating there if the sphere was aggressive. Ultimately, it felt like the best selection, regardless of forgoing the potential prize cash in Toronto.”

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon awards the highest Canadian female and male finisher with CDN $8,000. Home athletes may also probably earn extra prize cash in the event that they place within the high eight general.

Finally yr’s Canadian Marathon Championships in Toronto, Wesselius was the third Canadian finisher, with a time of two:16:51. He says he ran most 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 minutes forward of him.

In distinction to Hofbauer and Linkletter, Wesselius is an unsponsored athlete who juggles coaching with a full-time job as a large-animal veterinarian within the Ottawa space. “I often start my coaching round 5:30-6 a.m., relying on when my first name of the day is available in,” Wesselius mentioned. “My morning routine consists of a 35- to 45-minute run, adopted by an extended 70-minute run or exercise after my workday ends, often round 4 p.m.”

Wesselius mentioned that his new private finest gave him a major confidence enhance as he appears ahead to a spring marathon. “I believe I’ve 2:12 within the legs,” he added. “Throughout the second half of the race, I used to be in a position to overtake many runners, and I averted bonking. It was cool to beat a number of guys with quicker private bests.”

Wesselius, 29, was 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.

Though Wesselius simply ran a marathon PB, he has a excessive motivation to proceed coaching this fall. “I wish to do one other marathon within the spring, however I’m nonetheless figuring out the small print,” he mentioned. For now, he’s getting ready for the Canadian XC Championships in Ottawa in November and the Vancouver First Half in February.