2025 RunNB's Awards Banquet - Saint John

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Donald Wade - Chairman's Message

RunNB proudly celebrates the more than 10 thousand runners who crossed the finish line as part of the 69 races on the RunNB race calendar.

Out of those thousands of runners, some deserve to be recognized for their speed, others for their promising outlook, others for their exceptional achievement and yet others for the inspiration they convey to others.

All 69 races have equal importance to us but a few have attracted and impressed even more the running community and they deserve to be recognized for their excellent work.

We also count in our midst people who contribute exceptionally to promote running in their communities. It is important to recognize this important contribution and we will present to you an example of what this award represents.

Nineteen runners, 4 women and 15 men, have completed the Run the Cycle, meaning that they ran all 5 calendar distances, the 5km, 5 miles, 10 km, half marathon and the marathon. It is an exceptional feat and we are proud to recognize their discipline and stamina.

For the past 5 years, RunNB has offered an annual challenge to help keep runners motivated throughout the year. The Circle NB Challenge saw some runners achieve amazing results. We wish to thank them for their commitment to running and their personal discipline.

Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to the members of the RunNB Board for their unwavering commitment to running. Thank you, Daniel, Michel, Nathalie, Sara, Bruce, Jeff, Alex and Gilles. Your input during our 5 Board Meetings and numerous discussions on Messenger have demonstrated your keen judgement, your attention to details and your fairness.

I also want to thank Alex for organizing the Annual RunNB Awards event in Saint John and posting excellent articles on our Facebook page.

Congratulations to all who help make 2025 another successful running season!

NB Records set in 2025

Click to see all NB Records

2025 Trackie SuperSeries Winners

Click link Trackie SuperSeries page to view results of the Top winners of each category.

Event of the Year

47th Annual Fredericton Marathon - Fredericton, NB

Fredericton Marathon: A Lasting Legacy

Record-breaking 47th Stewart McKelvey Fredericton Race Weekend

In 2025, the Fredericton Marathon hit a new participation high at its 47th annual race weekend, with 3,234 runners across marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, and children's events. Despite heavy rain, all participants showed enthusiasm for Fredericton's scenic routes.

New Course and Features

The 2025 marathon introduced a northside trail to its route and brought back staggered starts, improving the participant experience.

Elite 5K Competition

Atlantic Canada's first road race label event featured 39 elite athletes on Saturday, marking the only Athletics Canada Road Race Label race east of Quebec City.
 

Race directors, Christine Little & Bruce Macfarlane with male winner Miike Tate of London, ON	Race directors, Christine Little & Bruce Macfarlane with female winners Eileen Benoit of Sweets Corner NS and Katie Richard of Charlottetown PE

Fredericton Marathon Community Fund

The Marathon launched a permanent fund in partnership with the Fredericton Community Foundation to support local charities. Contributions are pooled and managed to maximize impact, with tax receipts provided.

Community Spirit and Volunteers

For 48 years, the Marathon has united the community beyond running, now extending its legacy through the Community Fund. Volunteers remain essential, ensuring the event runs smoothly and fostering community connection.

RunNB is proud to award the the 47th Fredericton Marathon as the 2025 Event of the Year, a celebration of community, movement, and the shared joy of crossing the finish line together.

Photo above: The 47st Fredericton Marathon of Fredericton, NB is the 2025 Event of the Year	Photo above: Donald Wade, RunNB Chairperson presents Christine Little, Race Director of the 2025 Event of the Year award. (Photo by Sofie Gautreau)

Male Runner of the Year

Hayden Hollowell - Moncton, NB

Hayden Hollowell: Inspiring Runner and Community Leader

2025: A Year of Remarkable Achievements

In 2025, Hayden Hollowell delivered an outstanding performance in the Canadian marathon scene. He achieved two top marathon results, including a third-place finish at the Bluenose Marathon with a time of 2:38:47, and claimed first place at the Legs for Literacy Marathon in Moncton, crossing the finish line in 2:39:24.

Hayden also posted a competitive half marathon time of 1:15:31. His speed carried over to shorter distances, earning him second place at the St Andrews 5 Miler with a time of 27:46, as well as a strong 5K performance of 16:22.

Contribution to the Greater Moncton Running Community

Hayden is highly active within the Greater Moncton running community. Having recently moved from Alberta to Moncton, he now teaches Physical Education at a local middle school. His impressive racing credentials have inspired many young students to pursue running, fostering an environment of enthusiasm and participation in sport.

Leadership and Humility

Despite his many accomplishments, Hayden remains humble and approachable. He is well-liked and respected both on and off the racecourse, serving as a true inspiration to those around him.

Fostering the Next Generation of Runners

In addition to his teaching duties, Hayden coaches cross-country at a Moncton middle school. Through his guidance, he introduces students to running and helps nurture their passion for the sport.

RunNB is proud to present Hayden Hollowell with the Male Runner of the Year Award for 2025.

Hayden running 455 edition of the Demi-marathon de l'Acadie.  [Photo by: Donald Wade]	Hayden after winning the Legs for Literacy marathon. [Photo by: Unknown]	Sarah Young, RunNB board member present Hayden the Male Runner of the Year. [Photo by: Sofie Gautreau]

Female Runner of the Year

Julia Reid-Howell - Fredericton, NB

Julia's Remarkable Comeback Season

Return to Top Form

Julia’s return to competitive running after welcoming her baby this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Demonstrating incredible resilience and determination, she quickly regained her elite status within the New Brunswick running community.

Outstanding Race Performances

In 2026, Julia achieved the third fastest 5k time among all female runners in New Brunswick. She dominated the rankings, holding the top position in the 5 mile, 10k, and half marathon events. Notably, her impressive half marathon time of 1:21:14 placed her in the top ten all-time performances for the distance, a remarkable feat that highlights her exceptional talent and dedication.

Consistent Victories and Accolades

Throughout the season, Julia’s racing prowess was evident as she secured numerous victories and posted top times across multiple race distances. Her consistency and excellence earned her a prominent place in the SuperSeries standings, further cementing her reputation as one of the province’s top athletes.

Balancing Motherhood and Athletic Success

Julia’s accomplishments are made even more impressive by the fact that she achieved these results less than a year postpartum, all while nursing. She managed to win every race she entered and set several new personal bests, showcasing her remarkable ability to balance the demands of motherhood with elite athletic performance.

RunNB Event Participation

Julia competed in 14 RunNB events over the course of the year, consistently delivering top performances. She holds the fastest times for 5 miles, 10k, and the half marathon, and ranked third in the 5k, underscoring her versatility and dominance across different race distances.

RunNB is proud to name Julia Reid-Howell as 2025 Female Runner of the Year.

Julia running the Arlene Donaher 5K in Miramichi in November  [Photo by:Norma  MacLean]	Julia racing at the 15Km de Grande-Digue in April 2025. [Photo by: Grande-Digue Race Committee]	Michel Robichaud (L) Treasurer of RunNB presents Julia Reid-Howell with the 2025 Female Runner of the Year award. [Photo by: Sofie Gautreau]

Up and Coming Female Runner of the Year

Brianna Kao- Harvey, NB

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RunNB has selected Brianna as the Up and Coming Female Runner of the Year not only for her running accomplishments thus far, but for the incredible potential she holds for the future.

Up and Coming Male Runner of the Year

Thomas Van Steeg - Sussex, NB

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RunNB is pleased to recognize Thomas as the 2025 Up and Coming Male Runner of the Year.

Personal Achievement Award

Marcelle Breau- Tracadie, NB

Celebrating an Inspiring Running Journey

Marcelle Breau of Tracadie marked a truly special milestone when she completed her 100th Demi-marathon de l’Acadie (DMA) during the event’s 389th edition in 2020. Cheered on by fellow runners at the finish line, Marcelle was met with warm congratulations and genuine admiration for her determination, discipline, and sportsmanship.

Dedication Since the Beginning

Having taken part in the DMA since it first began in 1987—sometimes volunteering, sometimes running—Marcelle has watched the event grow to an impressive 457 editions. Her 100th DMA was especially memorable, as she braved snowy, windy weather to finish in 2:02:37, proving to everyone that age is never a barrier to chasing dreams.

Competitive Spirit and Record-Setting Performances

Marcelle’s love for running shines through in everything she does. She was the top runner in the 2025 Circle New Brunswick Loop Challenge, finishing ahead of her own husband, who took second place, and well-known runner Mathieu Hebert, who came in third. Competing in the 70-79 age group, Marcelle has set countless records, including a standout performance at the Subway Grand Bay Westfield Canada Day 10-mile race, where she finished just eleven minutes shy of the national record. She often completes half marathons in under two hours—a feat that inspires runners of all ages.

Boston Marathon and Recent Accolades

Last year, Marcelle once again completed the Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line in 5:08:29. Her remarkable achievements have earned her a well-deserved nomination for the Personal Achievement Award at the RunNB banquet.

Marcelle running the Demi-marathon de l'Acadie in February 2025 [Photo by: Donald Wade]	Marcelle in full stride at the 15Km de Grande-Digue in April 2025. [Photo by: Unknown]	Donald Wade, RunNB Chairperson presents Marcelle Breau with the 2025 Personal Achievement award. [Photo by: Sofie Gautreau]

Sylvio Bourque Memorial Award (Inspirational Person)

Denis Leblanc - Moncton, NB

The Inspirational Runner Who Chases Records

Denis Leblanc's is ???? in New Brunswick as a ??? runner.  

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Denis csint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit ani RunNB’s 2025 Inspirational Person of the Year award, reminding us that personal achievements driven by passion and perseverance are truly praiseworthy.

2024 RunNB Outstanding Contributors

Greg Allan - Fredericton, NB

RunNB presented the Outstanding Contributor of the Year award to Greg Allan, an individual who has been coaching runners of all ages for over 30 years, an incredible milestone that speaks volumes about his dedication to the sport, his athletes and running community.

Over the decades, Greg has coached at the regional, provincial, and national levels, and international events leaving a lasting legacy at every stage.

His expertise spans across many disciplines, including road racing. He encourages the athletes he coaches to run in New Brunswick races as well as volunteer at local running races.

Greg goes above and beyond... he’s investigated universities for athletes he’s coaching and helped them in selecting, he’s driven athletes to workouts or track meets.

If you ask those who have had the privilege of being coached by this individual…. what makes him truly special is not the course record, or PB he’s led them to, but the genuine care and dedication he shows to everyone—helping anyone with a passion for sports achieve their personal best.

Even in a sport that’s often seen as individual, he is known for fostering a strong sense of team and community among all runners…. not just his athletes.

One of his current ventures is coaching the V-Maxxers team, a diverse and ever-expanding team with members ranging from ages 11 to athletes in their 50s and 60s.

Under his leadership, the team is thriving, with all the members achieving remarkable personal milestones.

His passion for running is infectious. Two of his daughters run and one is a member of the V Maxx team.

For his dedication to the sport of running and the countless lives he has positively shaped throughout his journey, the RunNB Outstanding Contributor of the Year 2025 award recipient is Greg Allan.

Greg The Coach shown above with many of track athletes [Photo by: Unknown]	Greg with in Julia Raye Reid-Howell and Mary Bartlett, two of his athlete [Photo by: Unknown]	Bruce MacFarlane (L) Vice-Chairman of RunNB presents Greg with the 2025 Outstanding Contribution Award  [Photo by: Sofie Gautreau]

Run For The Cycle

Suzanne Myers and Mathieu Hébert are the champions of Run For The Cycle for 2025!

Suzanne had a strong performance in all five distances especially her 3:14:24 marathon time at Legs for Literacy in October. It was a tight race with Courtney Burchill who finished second in a total time of 6:19:13 to Suzanne's 6:17:41.

Male: Mathieu Hébert - Moncton, NB / Female: Suzanne Myers, Moncton, NB 

Mathieu Hébert, 2025 male winner of Run For The Cycle	Run For The Cycle	Suzanne Myers, 2025 female winner of Run For The Cycle

The 2025 RunNB NB Challenge

RunNB launched the RunNB 2023 New Brunswick Challenge  last December.  The Challenge included 1200km loops of New Brunswick allowing runners and walkers to challenge themselves to cover the 1200km loop distance or more over a 12-month period.

Marcelle Breau, of Tracadie, the top winner of the 2023 RunNB Challenge, managed to cover over 7000km. Her husband, Jean-Marie, finished second with 6000 plus km to his credit. Marcelle and Jean-Marie Breau both ran over 20 RunNB events and many training runs to total more than three loops around the province of NB.

Fred Green and Nora Bath of St Andrews and Grand Manan respectively finished third and fourth in the NB Challenge. Both Charlotte County runners completed three loops of NB running over 5000km. Odette Légère of Tracadie finished 5th also running three loops of the NB Challenge.

Top 5 of The NB Challenge

Pos Name Residence Prov Cat F/M Distance 1 Marcelle Breau Tracadie NB 70-79 F ???? Km 2 Jean-Marie Breau Tracadie NB 70-79 M ???? Km 3 ???? ??? NB 70-79 M ????Km 4 ??? ??? NB 70-79 F ??? Km 5 ??? ??? NB 60-69 F ???? Km

Full Results

Banquet Photos & Award Winners Photos

Click here to view photos from the 2023 Awards Banquet	Click here to view photos of the 2023 Award Winners