MacDonald to tackle marathon

As a mixed martial artist, he’s faced some of the toughest hombres in the business.

On Sunday, Red Deer’s Jason MacDonald will tackle an unknown opponent when he competes in the Woody’s RV World marathon and half marathon.

MacDonald is one of a handful of celebrity runners set to participate in the 10th annual event. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) member will run the 21-kilometre half marathon for the first time ever.

“Running has been a part of my training for mixed martial arts, but I have never done the long distance,” he said Tuesday. “The marathon is such a big part of Red Deer, and to be invited as a participant is a big honour.”

MacDonald is actually no stranger to the event.

“My wife (Kelly) has run it for several years and every year we’ve gone down to support her at the finish line,” he said. “There has always so much excitement and it’s going to be a thrill for me to be a part of it this year.

“I have probably 10 to 12 family members running this year and I’m really looking forward to joining them and getting in on the excitement of this being the 10th anniversary of the race and Bill’s 100th marathon.”

MacDonald was referring to Bill Nielsen of Lacombe, who will mark his centennial marathon by running in support of Parkinson’s Research.

The other celebrity runners for the 2008 event are Woody Paylor, the owner of Woody’s RV World and the event title sponsor who’s also a world class tri-athlete, and Boston Marathon running legend Dick Beardsley.

Beardsley is best known for his incredible performance in the 1982 Boston Marathon, when he engaged world record holder Alberto Salazar in an epic battle. Salazar won in a record time of 2:08.51, with Beardsley second in 2:08.53, which remains as the fifth-fastest time in U.S. men’s marathon history.

The 50-year-old is an internationally-known motivational speaker who will visit Notre Dame high school from noon to 12:30 Friday and will be at the Runner’s Den from 2:30-4 p.m. and at the Black Knight Inn from 5-7 p.m. He will also participate in an open ‘fun’ run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday and will speak at a Black Knight Inn dinner from 5-8 p.m.

While last year’s men’s winner, Jonathan Withey of Edmonton, had not submitted his name prior to Sunday’s pre-registration deadline, seven-time champion Phil Meagher of Fort McMurray has confirmed his presence after skipping last year’s marathon.

Meagher took top honours in the marathon from 1999 to 2005 inclusive, and was fourth in 2006 when Jack Cook of Edmonton, who has entered again this year, raced to victory. Last year’s men’s runner-up, Brendan Lunty of Camrose, has also confirmed his entry.

Joyline Nodwell of Calgary will be back to defend her women’s title.

The Woody’s RV World marathon and half marathon starts at 8 a.m. at Camille J. Lerouge school, which is also the finish point. For the most part, both courses follow the city’s park trail system.

Marathon missives: Cook recently set a personal best time of 7:34.03 at the Canadian trail championships and is a current member of the national ultra marathon team, which is a two-time winner of the Canadian Death Race and current Death Race record holder . . . Jaime Rudyk of Calgary, 14, is the youngest full marathon entrant. At the other end of the scale is 75-year-old Raymond Colliver of Calgary . . . The Woody’s event was ranked fourth among the top 10 Alberta road races of 2007, based on community feedback . . . A record number of 1,350 runners have registered for this year’s event, including 345 for the full marathon. Another 75 have registered for the walk. Organizers expect the total number of participants to exceed 1,400, with 95 per cent of the runners from Alberta. Runners from as far away as Alaska, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Texas and Mexico have also entered . . . Mike Znak and Gary Moe, both of whom are back this year, are the only runners to have participated for nine consecutive years. Znak has completed nine Woody’s RV marathons and Moe has completed eight marathons and one half marathon.

Contact Greg Meachem at sports@reddeeradvocate.com