The three turtles Anne Ferguson, Janice Pettit and Anne MacArthur stop for a photo together at a race in Georgetown in 2024. ContributedArticle contentMy husband and I used to train during the spring and summer for 5K and 10K distances to be raced during the P.E.I. Marathon weekend and then would shelve our shoes for the rest of the year until spring came around again.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIt always felt like we were starting all over in the spring so in 2014 we decided to keep running into the fall and sign up for a winter running clinic to keep running during the winter. And if you recall the snow of 2015 – what a winter to start running!Article contentArticle contentArticle contentIt was at this training clinic that I started running with Anne MacArthur and Anne Ferguson (or the Annes as they are affectionately called). They had met at a similar run clinic in 2013 and, with another friend who no longer runs, had originally called themselves the turtles because they felt they were slow runners.Article contentThat spring a group of us decided to do an off-island run together and created the pink turtle T-shirts you often see us wearing during a race, which over 10 friends and family also wore, although the guys chose blue shirts. Half had shirts saying “slow” with the word turbo crossed out, and “turtles” at the bottom. Half said “turbo turtles” because they were much faster than us. Each shirt also had a nickname on the back. The three of us are Tireless, Wacky and Smiley.Article contentArticle contentStill runningArticle contentAnd so, 10 years later, the three of us are still running together and we are still as slow as turtles! We have joined and led training clinics over the years, trained for half, full and ultra marathon distances, and made tons of friends along the way. We have a large group of friends in a social media app where people make and share their upcoming run plans, organize carpools, and daily encourage and motivate each other to get out.Article contentArticle contentWe also have a message group for just the three of us nicknamed Peer Pressure Runners where we suggest and plan our next run adventure, share pictures taken, and encourage one another to get out of bed, put on some run clothes, and get ready to join fellow turtles.Article contentArticle contentLast October I ran my 20th “registered” half marathon race during P.E.I. Marathon weekend, and I could never have gotten to that number without my turtles to keep me motivated.Article contentIn addition to the things other participants or bystanders may see and hear, like the loud “woohoos!” along the route, bubbles for a pick-me-up, or even just high fives, there are often things happening between us that others may not catch.Article contentThose two gals have talked me to the finish line during races when I was hitting a wall, and several years ago in a race, I realized Anne was no longer beside me during the final few metres up a hill, so I turned around, grabbed her hand and started dragging her to the finish line. We started the race together, so it only made sense to finish together!
P.E.I. MARATHON: Running with the Turtles
