The Running Whys – Paul Lavoie

It was 1978 and Paul Lavoie had just returned to Fredericton to live after spending several years in Yellowknife in one of his early career postings with the federal government.

Once settled back in the New Brunswick capital in his role as a regional manager for Natural Resources Canada, he was comfortable with administration. But with many long hours at the desk, he realized he needed to get back into shape.

The Running Whys – Troy Sandwith

When Troy Sandwith made a commitment to running, the first race he picked to compete in was the 2011 Fredericton Marathon.

Was he crazy?

The Running Whys – Donna Trites

This story ran in the Daily Gleaner on Oct. 14.

Donna Trites celebrated her 48th birthday Friday and as per usual, the weekend celebration plans will revolve around running.

The Running Whys – John Maher

This story ran in the Daily Gleaner in October.

John Maher was 44, solidly entrenched in his career in Fredericton and raising two active sons with his wife Linda.

It was the spring of 2013.

Within a short-time period, he got two phone calls, the kind you dread, the kind that change things forever.

The Running Whys – Erika Kubik

This story ran in the Daily Gleaner in September.

Erika Kubik’s return home has been nothing short of a dream.

The 32-year-old Fredericton native moved back to the city in December, re-establishing herself in the area she lived until she was approximately 10 years old.

What she discovered was a perfect venue for her reasonably new hobby – running. It’s a sport she took up four years ago and one that she credits for many positive attributes in her life.

The Running Whys – Jennifer Spinney

This story ran in the Daily Gleaner in August.

Near Jennifer Spinney‘s house on the Carlisle Road there is a hill. It’s not any hill but the kind of incline that can get inside your head.

Whether it is biking or running, the climb can be daunting, a challenge that requires a mini celebration every time it is conquered.

Some call it a beast.

The Running Whys – Justin Young

This story ran in the Daily Gleaner in August.

The more Justin Young keeps running, the more his motives and appreciation for the sport stays the same.

The Running Whys – Erin Whitman

Erin Whitman, who graduated from NBCC in Saint John, started running at 34 years old and now had three marathons to her credit, including the Ottawa Marathon earlier his year. Here is her running story.

“My mom is confined to a wheelchair and cannot walk or even stand up, so I was running for both of us. And when the going got tough, I would remember why and who I was running for.”

The Running Whys – Paulette Stoddard

Paulette Stoddard is a Saint John native who started to run in 2009, one of many important facets that helped in transforming her life.

She continues to live on the West Side of the city and has been happily married to her husband Jim since 1999. Professionally, she is the Purchasing and Security Manager with WorkSafeNB

The Running Whys – Brittany Merrifield

For Brittany Merrifield, the Emera Marathon By The Sea is more than a race, more than logging of kilometres in training.

For the Saint Johner who left the city for more than a decade before returning to the land that she loves, MBTS represents much more than all that.