Marathon by the Sea moves starting line back to waterfront

The Saint John Marathon by the Sea has changed course for this year's event, with organizers deciding to move the start line back to the uptown area and roll out races over three days, beginning Friday.

For the past few years, participants heard the pistol in Rockwood Park, but race chairman Patrick Grannan said the running festival has outgrown the north-end venue.

The new race route will start and end at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal on Water Street.

"It's close to the downtown, it's absolutely perfect," Grannan said.

"The parking is great, it's a beautiful facility and we can't wait to get in there Friday night.

You don't have to go away to an event to do a run to get the full experience.- Patrick Grannan

"We're trying to make it a community event, not just a running event, but an event the entire running community can get behind … A lot of people are talking about the marathon again, so we're extremely pleased to be back uptown again."

The festival is expanding this year to include a Friday evening run, also starting at the cruise terminal. Participants will get a reflective vest and head lamp for the five-kilometre run that will take them along Harbour Passage and through the Market Square boardwalk.

The five-kilometre race, and Harbour Front Hustle Kids' Run is planned for Saturday.

On Sunday the 10-kilometre, half marathon and full marathon events will take place, followed by the awards ceremony and victory party on the boardwalk.

"We're trying to make it a festival of running, and to do that we had to spread out over the weekend, but I think it works out perfectly," Grannan said.

"I think it will be an incredible weekend, not just for the runners … everyone who wants to get out and enjoy the fireworks and have a good time and find out that 'participaction' is great, it's fun."

The Marathon by the Sea is already generating a lot of hype, Grannan said.

iRun Magazine is sending a writer to profile the event, and the television show, Modern Traveler, will attend the Into the Night five-kilometre run.

Race organizers are also setting up live cameras and drones on the course to capture the race in its entirety for audiences online.

"You don't have to go away to an event to do a run to get the full experience," Grannan said.

"We have that in Saint John and I think everyone is recognizing that so we're getting some national and international coverage."