Living and training in Halifax, distance runner Maksym Pokotylets is no stranger to the city’s wet, coastal conditions, and on Sunday at the 2025 Blue Nose Marathon, the inclement weather was in full force. With 3.6 mm of rain and 30 km/h winds, nearly 2,000 runners faced a tough day for the marathon and half-marathon distances.
Despite the not-ideal conditions, Pokotylets came out on top in his debut–breaking the tape in 2:33:09. “Given the conditions, I chose to start the race a bit slower than my goal pace,” Pokotylets said of his strategy. “Looking back, I think that was the key to not blowing up.”
Pokotylets told Canadian Running he only decided to run the Blue Nose Marathon three and a half weeks ago. “I had planned to race the Vancouver Sun Run in April, but came down with the flu,” he said. “I knew Blue Nose was coming up and figured, why not?”
While three weeks isn’t ideal prep for 42.2K, Pokotylets leaned on his years of training in Halifax to carry him through. “Thankfully, I had some friends out cheering in the rain, and every time I heard someone yell, ‘Let’s go Maks!’, it reminded me to finish strong,” he said. “I was just grateful for anyone who showed up to race or cheer in the cold and rain.”
Pokotylets said he didn’t expect to get emotional at the finish line, but the moment caught up with him. “The race showed me how powerful the marathon can be.”
After a day off, he says he’s already back to training, with another race on the calendar this weekend: the Cabot Trail Relay. He’ll represent Slow Ships AC on one of the 17 legs, which Pokotylets already expects to be hilly. “I could barely walk after Blue Nose, so I know Cabot will be a challenge,” he joked. “But I think the motivation from my team alone can carry me through.”
On the women’s side, Halifax’s Alexandra Quimby was the first across the finish in 2:56:36, placing 13th overall. Originally from Ontario, Quimby moved to Nova Scotia last July—this was her first Blue Nose Marathon.
“It’s really fun,” Quimby told CBC News in an interview. “It seemed there was great energy despite the weather.”
For full results from the 2025 Blue Nose Marathon, see here.
