I really enjoyed the race Sunday. Racing in NS is something I saver every time, and the Bridge Mile atmosphere was awesome. Dave Gill mentioned before the race what a great job Louis Brill was doing announcing,saying, "The crowd will love us all no mater how fast we run." You've got a great thing going, keep it up! I look forward to coming back and trying to make it a three peat.
Sophia Chow 2007 Elite Participant It was my first experience with the BridgeMile and it was an unforgettable one. The announcers and the organizers had such a passion and energy, that I think all the athletes and even the crowd could feel. Everything was really well organized and for the most part everything ran on time. The crowd was amazing, especially at the end of the race when everything was hurting, they really gave me the extra push to finish. I am not typically a "miler" but this experience definitely has given me the drive to become one and finish in the top three next year! Thank you for the experience, it was truly amazing.
Leslie Fisher 2007 Elite Participant What a great way to start off the year. It was a exciting male elite race, and as always, was very well put together. Makes for a very good day. We ended up having two good days of weather for both the bridge mile and Natal day. Looking forward to running in the elite next year. Thanks again.
Jess O'Connell 2006
"Hi there! I'd just like to thank you guys so much for the opportunity to compete in the BridgeMile. It was so fun, there was absolutely every single perk you could ever hope for in a race! (i.e. being driven across the bridge in the runner wagon - very interesting, the introductions, running through the ribbon, lots of people cheering, and the reception!) The youth and open races were also thriving and everyone looked like they were having a ton of fun. The competitors and organizers involved in the race were super friendly and made me feel very welcome. I love that good ol' Nova Scotia hospitality! All in all, it was a really really great experience! I've been telling all of the Calgary runners who'll listen just how awesome it is! Hope the rest of your summer was good! Thanks again."
Matt Scheffield 2005 "I've never seen so many people running toward Dartmouth! Hats off to the Bridge Mile organizers for challenging regional socio-economic stereotypes! Hats off to the Bridge Mile organizers for promoting Dartmouth as a destination worth running towards -if only for a day! Joking and Dartmouth related tomfoolery aside, the Bridge Mile is a very special event. It has achieved the crucial balance between participation and competition. Runners in the open section are inspired to watch the elites go for victory. Likewise, the elites are inspired to watch a whole cross section of runners chase after personal bests. If you're a perfectionist the Bridge Mile will get your knickers in a knot -or more likely your oh-so-tight short shorts. Strategic perfection is a near impossibility. And that's what makes it so challenging and addictive. Go out too hard and you'll hit lactic acid before the crest; go out too slow and you'll hit the downhill alongside Rich "do you even know what a fast twitch muscle is?" Leihman. Spectators hold that Rich actually said this as he flew past Robert Kitz (Ottawa Dome 3000m record holder) en route to 2005 Bridge Mile immortality. In sum, the Bridge Mile is wicked awesome x 11 and you should run!"
Matt McInnes 2004 Male Elite Participant "Both my sister and I enjoyed the event immensely. We both ran personal bests, and hope to run the event again. It is a challenging, yet fast course. The crowd support was amazing, and the introductions before the race were a big thrill. Thanks."
Greg Ogrodnick Father of Avril & Lise 1st & 3rd place winners 2004 "These are great!! Thanks so much. The girls and I had an absolutely amazing time. We have been doing a lot of bragging about the Maritime hospitality. Thank you again for including us in your plans this year!!!"
A Quick Interview... with Jay Dolmage and Heather Stuart. Jay and Heather participated in the Halifax Bridge Mile on July 1st 2004.
Interviewer: How was your Canada day? J:It was incredible to be in Halifax, on such a nice day, and to have the opportunity to take part in the race--it was a perfect Canada Day. H: We were able to spend the afternoon and evening downtown, watch the fireworks.
Interviewer: Can you tell me a little bit about how you decided to run the race, what drew you out here? J: Well, I've never been to Halifax, and I've always wanted to go. H: We're on vacation right now, and we've been wanting to go on a trip. Really, it all worked out perfectly. J: Grant, Louis, Bill and all of the promoters were kind enough to invite us, and WestJet was generous enough to fly us out. It was really a sequence of lucky coincidences, for us, but the race promoters did a lot of work to try and get not just an elite field, but also to sell therace, the city, and so on... H: It's rare to find a race that is attractive not just because of the event itself, but also because of where it is, how it's set up. J: You end up traveling a lot and just running, then just coming home. We were married last fall, and since then we've been looking for races we can both run. Heather has been injured, so this race didn't work out as well for her, but the experience itself was pretty unbeatable.
Interviewer: Jay, you won the men's race after leading from start to finish, can you talk a bit about the race? J: Well, the race started out with a pretty big incline up. I didn't expect to be in the lead at the top of the hill--in fact, I was counting on having considerable ground to make up. But no one else took it out, and as we came to the top of the hill, I had a lead, a goodlead. So then I didn't reallyhave any choice buttopush hard all the way to the finish. I was listening for the rest of the pack to catch up, holding a little in the tank, and Jeff Gorman got close enough for me to see him out of the corner of my eye. Then, I just kicked.
Interviewer: Would you come back and run the race again? J: Absolutely. I'm sure lots of other people, when they hear about the race, will want to run it too. As the race expands, I can see it becoming more of a destination--it's tough to beat Halifax in the summer, a great elite race. I think the bridge is the best venue for a road mile anywhere in Canada.
Interview with Jamie Blanchard 2002 Male Elite Winner 4:02
“This is my second year at the Bridge Mile, so I wanted to dowell. I heardthe buzz about there being some fast runners from Ontario so I was keen to compete. I wasn't expecting to win, just have some good competition, so I was relaxed at the start. I'm confident in my downhill ability, and when I saw that I was right with the lead pack of four at the crest of the span, I decided to go for it. Willy Best was always with me so I knew it would be a push. Willy was close on my left shoulder for the last 500 meters and I expected a kick from him. It was such a close finish and I wasthrilled with my time (4:02).
Hundreds of cheering fans at the finish line makes it a great event." "The timing of the Bridge Mile is excellent. I'm at a peak then as I have been training & competing throughout the spring & early summer. It is one of the few races at this time of year. And talk about the pre-race fanfare. With each elite runner being individually introduced, applauded, then transported via the Bridge Commission vehicle to the Halifax side start line, man, it really builds our anticipation. And after the races, the Holiday Inn reception is a great intermingling of young and experienced runners. The elite runners just loved tossing out those TD Canada Trust Frisbees to all the kids."
"Honestly, the Bridge Mile is my favorite race. Get the word out to the Track & Field coaches and Clubs. That way, you will always have the next generation of runners attending. This race has a great feel about it. Thanks to New Balance and Aerobics First for supporting such a great race day."
Interview with Heather Hennigar 2002 Female Elite Winner 4:46 "Really well run." is how the female elite winner, Heather Hennigar described the 2002 Bridge Mile. She noted that it brings in “good competition” and really pumps up the contestants with the “individual runner introductions and the unique transport of the runners over to the start line.”
"All the events started on time and for a runner that is a good thing. We are nervous enough without a late start." “In a way, this is better than a track meet, because it is scheduled so tight.” Heather said. Asked about how to improve it she said, “Bring in more competition”. Of the post race reception atthe Holiday Inn Harbourview, Heather liked all the prizes and trophies that were awarded. “Every youth entrant got a Medal and that was super”. “The Open Event and the Youth Mile was a wonderful mix of runners of all abilities. It's a recreational and competitive event all in one”, she noted. “I'm totally committed to returning to the 2003 event on August 3, 2003 to defend my title”.
