For Portage la Prairie's Kale Sissons, crossing the finish line at the 2025 Manitoba Marathon marked the achievement of a longtime personal goal. The local runner, who had previously taken on shorter distances at the annual event, decided this year was the right time to level up.
“I completed the Manitoba half marathon about three years ago, and before that, I'd done the 10K portion of the Manitoba marathon, but this is the first time I've done a full marathon,” says Sissons.
Taking on the full 42.2-kilometre course was no small decision, but it was one he had been building toward.
“I wanted to challenge myself. It was something I've always wanted to attempt, and now I can cross it off the bucket list,” he adds.
Going the distance without pressure
Sissons didn’t set any expectations going into race day. His only goal was to cross the finish line.
“About 1300 other runners were doing the full portion of the marathon, so I was just happy to finish. My time was just over 5 hours, so that's not too bad for my first marathon,” he continues.
Training and tough spots
In the months leading up to the race, Sissons fit in consistent training runs, logging around 30 to 40 kilometres weekly.
"Starting this past spring, I tried to get out at least two or three times a week to run. It was a good excuse to keep in shape, too, because I had something to train towards,” he explains.
Even with months of training under his belt, race day came with challenges that no amount of prep could fully erase.
“It was tough. I found it was hard on my feet and my knees. There were quite a few stations where you could stop along the way, so I took breaks when I could, and I'm just happy that I made it across the line.”
Crossing the finish line
Completing the race was no small feat, but the feeling at the finish line made it worth the grind.
“It's one of the most physically demanding things I've done in my life, and it was a huge sense of accomplishment to cross the finish line and say I've completed a full marathon,” he notes.
While he’s in awe of those who make it look easy, Sissons takes pride in his result.
“The person who won the full marathon was in the two-hour range. I have a lot of respect for him. In the future, if I decide to run another full marathon, hopefully I can improve my time a little bit, but I'm happy with my performance for now,” he says.
Other local runners on the course
Also representing Portage la Prairie at this year’s marathon were Patrick Hamilton, Marisa Fraser, Casin Hawkins, Tanner Roy, Karen Yanchycki, Vanessa Schurko, and Chase Fedak.
Their combined efforts at Manitoba’s biggest running events show the spirit and determination that exists across the local running community, one step at a time.