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Thousands of people will hit the streets this Sunday for the 2025 Manitoba Marathon, including one avid runner who has been participating in the event since she was a teenager.
Tracy Bowman, alumni relations at the University of Manitoba, first participated in the Manitoba Marathon when she was 13 years old.
"I started running track and field in cross country in junior high and then continued in high school," said Bowman. "I also ran with the Bisons when I was a student at the University of Manitoba, and so I started with the Manitoba Marathon with the relay. So it was me and four other teammates from our track and field team."
After a few times running it, she discovered that if she was the first runner, she could do a longer distance.
"So then I decided to start running the half marathon, which is the distance I'll be running on Sunday."
This year is extra special as Bowman's 17-year-old son will be joining her.
"When I say with me, I mean he'll be far further ahead of me. He's far faster than me, so he won't be running together. But my son has run a few half marathons, but never the Manitoba marathon. So I'm excited for him to participate in that. It'll be really nice to be at the start and the finish line."
Bowman says the Manitoba Marathon is such a wonderful community event, which is why she keeps returning.
"I love seeing all the people who are standing and watching their loved ones on the side. The funnier the sign, the better. The more cowbells, the better," said Bowman. "I think there's also something special about it being on Father's Day and especially when I see the dads lining up on the sides with their kids cheering on their wives. It's the spirit of Manitoba. I really do feel that it's just such an epitome of what this province is all about."
For the first time in the marathon's history, the University of Manitoba has hopped on board as a sponsor for the event.
"We're sponsoring the bike valet and the Bison shuttle," said Bowman. "And so what that means is we're getting you to the center of it all, where the race begins and ends. So if you're choosing the park and ride, we're sponsoring the bus to get you to campus, to start the race, as well as the bike valet."
And to make things even sweeter, the first 1,200 racers who cross the finish line will be treated to ice cream from the dairy club, which is through the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences.
The Manitoba Marathon will take place on June 15, with the start line at the University of Manitoba.