Runs

The Tely 10 Mile Road Race, St. John’s, Newfoundland

February 18, 2010
By David Chaundy-Smart

Race Date:

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Course: Paradise to St. John´s, Newfoundland

Start Time: 8:00 a.m.

St. John’s is home to one of the oldest races in Canada and one of the most prestigious races in the Maritimes - the Tely 10.  Every year a strong field of about 2,500 runners make their way over the 10-mile, overall-downhill course from the town of Paradise by Ocatagon Pond into the heart of St John’s and the finish line at Bannerman Park.

The race, which is named after the original and continuous sponsor, the Telegram newspaper in St. John’s, started in 1922, and has been run every spring since then, with the exception of a break during the Second World War. There have been many incredible performances by the legends of Maritimes running, including a three-year streak in which one of Newfoundland’s best-ever runners, Ron O’Toole, won the race from 1923 to 1925. The course record, set by Paul McCloy in 1986, is 47:04. McCloy won the race four times in his career. Women have participated since 1969, and Nicola Will set the women’s record of 55:47 in 1985.

St John’s, the oldest English-speaking community in North America, is a fun and interesting city to visit. Water and Duckworth Streets offer numerous restaurants and George Street is said to have the highest density of bars anywhere in North America. The city also has several museums and historic sites dating back to its earliest days as an important outpost of the British Empire. There are plenty of hotels in the area.

Temperatures in July average around 26 C, and race month is also the sunniest in St. John’s, but being near the ocean, rain can be frequent.

Organized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletics Association (NLAA), profits from the 83rd annual Tely 10 will go toward NLAA programs.