Article contentPUBLIC EYEArticle contentMacKenzie believes participating in the Fiddlers Marathon is another way for fire departments to be in the public eye.Article content“The Fiddlers Marathon is a large event and it’s good to see people out there showcasing how difficult it is to perform the duties that we do on a regular basis, wearing and performing that gear,” said MacKenzie.Article content“For us, it’s just a challenge in keeping ourselves fit and making sure that we’re in a physical state so that we can perform our duties on a regular basis.”Article contentMacKenzie acknowledged the challenges of just running the event in full gear over the last two years, not including doing it under air.Article content“The temperature was definitely the biggest challenge,” said MacKenzie.Article content“You’re good for the first 10 or 15 minutes, the first half of the race, but by the time you turn around, and you start heading back up the Esplanade… the heat starts to build up inside the gear and you really start to feel it and wishing you could take everything off, but it defeats the purpose.”Article contentArticle contentPROMOTE HEALTHArticle contentThe Cape Breton Fiddlers Run Association was formed in the spring of 2005 by Lydia Dickson with the mandate to promote fitness and health in the community and to offer training for new runners.Article contentThe Fiddlers Marathon committee is made up of volunteers who represent the community including physicians, teachers, nutritionists, accountants, nurses, lawyers, police officers and staff from the Nova Scotia Health Authority, Cape Breton Regional Police, Cape Breton Regional Municipality recreation, and Doctors Nova Scotia.Article contentMacKenzie said in preparation for the event, some of the firefighters have been running with weight vests. Those competing under air were expected to complete a trial run last Sunday with hopes of getting a better understanding of the challenges they face.Article content“We honestly don’t know how much air we’re going to use, so part of the event is organizing with the Fiddlers Marathon to have a support vehicle follow us because we are going to have to change our bottles throughout the race,” he said.Article contentArticle content“Part of our trial, we’ll figure out how many bottles we’ll need for each person and go from there. We don’t know how many bottles we need because this is not a very common thing for us to do.”Article contentMacKenzie and his fellow fire service members will run together as a group at the event.Article content“We have no real expectations, part of that is because we need a follow vehicle,” said Mackenzie. “The only expectation is that we all cross the finish line at the end.”Article contentThe Cape Breton Fiddlers Marathon will begin on Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by the half marathon starting at 8:20 a.m. The 10-kilometre race will kick off at 8:45 a.m. MacKenzie and the firefighters will begin their five-kilotmetre event at 9 a.m.Article contentAll races start and finish near Victoria Park Armouries in Sydney.Article contentThe official registration numbers for each event were not available at publication time. Online registration closed on Oct. 15.Article contentCAPE BRETON FIDDLERS MARATHON START TIMESArticle content8 a.m. – Full MarathonArticle content8:20 a.m. – Half MarathonArticle content8:45 a.m. – 10-Kilometre RaceArticle content9 a.m. – 5-kilometre RaceArticle contentNote: All races start and finish near Victoria Park ArmouriesArticle content
Its going to be difficult: Local firefighters to run in full gear, some under air at Cape Breton Fiddlers Marathon this weekend
