Neither cold temperatures nor strong winds could deter more than 3,000 runners from lining up for Sunday’s 2025 Fredericton Marathon, marking another record-setting year for participation.
This year’s race drew 3,234 runners, 350 more than last year, setting a new record. “We are over-the-moon thrilled,” said co-race director Christine Little on setting another race record for the second straight year. The continued growth is a point of pride for organizers and a testament to the current running boom races are experiencing across the country.
Fredericton Marathon co-race director Bruce Macfarlane told CBC News that he believes the growth correlates with the growing interest in running and wellness. More than 1,000 kilometres away, Toronto’s Sporting Life 10K experienced a similar surge, recording its highest number of finishers in more than a decade, reaching 20,000 for the first time since 2015.
Beyond the increased participation numbers, runners welcomed the redesigned Fredericton Marathon course, which now winds through the city’s downtown core to alleviate congestion on the city’s trail system. More than 300 volunteers helped implement the new race logistics, ensuring a smooth race day after last year’s course was accidentally extended by three kilometres.
Two distance runners from New Brunswick won this year’s marathon. Bathurst’s Lee Roy, who reportedly was battling a chest cold, shocked even himself with a winning time of 2:45:39. “I’m surprised I even finished,” Roy told CBC News. “I can’t believe it.”
In the women’s race, Brianna Kao of Harvey, N.B., took the victory in 2:56:40. This was a major personal milestone for her after a DNF in last year’s race. “This is my redemption year,” Kao said. “Last year, I hit a mental block, and this year, I was focused on believing in myself.”
Falling on Mother’s Day, the event also served as a celebration for many families taking to the course. For full results from the 2025 Fredericton Marathon, see here.
