New Tecumseth Memorial 5km (2025)

Returning to defend my 2024 title, this is our local hospital charity race within Alliston, supporting Stevenson Memorial Hospital. It takes place annually on the first weekend following Thanksgiving, and draws a good-sized crowd for a small-town race. Since joining the local run club in Alliston and seeing renewed numbers and more competitive runners join over the last year and a half, this event is a big draw for the active members of the group, who will normally finish in the top 20.

This was my third year running it, and second for Zachary. While I did take the win narrowly last year, Zachary finished 4th and has been wanting to improve his time and his placement for 2025. A lot of the run group had decided to take it as an easy run, with many fresh off the Muskoka marathon 2-weeks prior, so Zachary was hungry for this race and when asked what his goal was, he wanted to finish sub-19mins 😮.

I wasn’t prepared to hear that pace (haha) but with a good friend, Michael Prates, who placed 2nd in 2024 and a few other fast runners we spotted in the crowd, we could certainly aim for it.

Happy faces for the hometown crowd

Course: A small-town road race, with police at major street crossings and busy intersections and marshals on the side street turns. This starts in the fairgrounds and weaves through older residential, before heading up and past the local hospital (where fundraising is directed) and loops back to finish at the fairgrounds. Entirely flat, with a total elevation of 12m over the 5km distance.
On-course Support: One hydration station just before the hospital around the halfway marker.
Surface: Starting and finishing on grass, this course is otherwise entirely asphalt and pavement. Some sections in poor condition in the older areas, with potholes and puddles to dodge.
Weather: Unseasonably hot at 20° with some strong wind gusts and overcast skies but with the forecast previously threatening rain, it held off until after the event.
Atmosphere: Friends, family and small-town characters galore! Returning for my third year, running with my local run club members and having the family all in attendance, with the kids competing, made for a great day. I’ve gotten to know the organizers and many of the volunteers and sponsors, so the atmosphere was fun and laughs both before and after the race. There was also a DJ entertaining the spectators and announcing finishers, keeping the energy levels up.
Post-race: The pavilion immediately past the finish line had bananas, bottled water and flavoured milks from local Sheldon Creek Dairy. Into the vendor village, there were additional options with hydration from Thrive Protein, tortilla chips and Jarritos from Guac Mexi Grill and pizza from Dominos (all local businesses).

Michael & I (training and racing together)

Zachary finishing

Overall: Out of the starting gate, it wasn’t Zachary leading and instead was Gillian House from Thrive Protein going hot for the first kilometer. Moving into the second kilometer, I passed Gillian, holding pace and leading a group including Michael, Zachary, Gillian and Leo Papail (in Newmarket Huskies livery).

I do think the pace may have been too aggressive for Zachary, as he and Gillian dropped back slightly, while Leo, Michael and I raced the remainder of the course together. Ultimately, Leo’s kick outperformed my own at the last turn and for the second year in a row, Michael finished hot on my heels only 1 second back, capturing 3rd overall.

Zachary finished just behind Gillian, taking 5th overall but setting a new 5km personal best on his Garmin which he was ecstatic about (the course ran a little long).

Colbie also joined us for the day, running the kids 1km fun run and holding onto her crown, finishing 1st place for the second year in a row

Colbie: untimed kids fun run | 1st place
Zachary: 20:07 | 5/164 – 1st place 1-19M
Patrick: 18:56 | 2/164 – 2nd overall

The smile when they call your name

Colbie & I showing hardware

While I was unable to defend my 2024 title, Leo had won this race previously in 2023 and overall, we finished almost a full minute faster than last year. In review of Zachary’s results, his time improved almost a full 2 minutes over his 2024 effort, so we were all feeling pretty good about the results.

It’s been a lot of fun this season running in our team colours but having a chance to do it in front of our hometown crowd, made it all that much more special for both Zachary and I.

Thank you to Lisa, Aaron, Van and of course all of the volunteers and sponsors (including Ryan Shea and the whole South Simcoe Physiotherapy family) who continue to make this a great and local community event.