Alex Maine's Blog » Blue Nose Marathon

Blue Noses and No Red Faces

Alex — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:47:57 +0000

Metro Centre - Alex Maine and Connie Grant. Photo by Tara MacPhee

This post would have arrived a little earlier, but like everyone who has worked on the Blue Nose Marathon the past few days have been “recovery time”. On Monday my voice was gone and I spent most of it dozing in and out of consciousness. It makes me wonder how the people who ran the marathon felt like on Monday. Oh well.. I’m fighting fit again now!

The title of this post really does reflect my overall thoughts on the weekend. There really were no major issues, everything seemed smooth. Obviously there is room for improvement and thanks to Facebook and Twitter we have had some great feedback.

We were even lucky enough to get some wonderful weather. Most runners I spoke to said that they found the conditions just right. It was beautiful day with barely a cloud in the sky but there was that all important breeze. Without it, it would have been too hot for many.

The actual running is just one aspect of the Blue Nose weekend. My weekend started off at the Expo in the WTCC. This year it was much more organized and there were things that would interest you whether you were a runner or not. I remember walking round last year’s expo which was very tedious, so it was great to see such life coming from the expo.

Nearly every person who left the expo on Saturday left with a blue nose as the exchange students who were volunteering obviously didn’t pickup that the paint was just for the kids but it didn’t really matter it was actually quite amusing! On the evening of Saturday I coordinated Pasta Village and I can safely say that the food was good. After sitting and watching people eat for two hours you didn’t have to ask me twice to go eat.

I took the opportunity to grab my florescent safety jacket and headed out on to the course to see the Nova Scotia Doctors Youth Run. Here are a few clips from the youth run start and finish line. Listen for the kid about a minute into the first video screaming at the Smart Bread Mascot. It was hard not to laugh.

You may also wish to watch these videos: Youth Run Winners, Youth Run Finish Line & the Post Race Party.

Sunday brought us the adult runs (that doesn’t sound right) but sadly I was busy coordinating the awards in the metro centre so I never got to see them start. Tara took 1000+ images at the weekend and I am sure they will be up on her site soon.

Once people started to cross the finish line we were waiting to make sure the winners got their Nova Scotian Crystal trophies and that was a manic few hours! Then I shot back home to shower and change to come back to coordinate the party. It was one heavy weekend!

—Talking of heavy weekends, you should check out this guy who spent 12 hours on the treadmill outside the expo on Saturday and then ran the full marathon on Sunday. Wow! Here is the video of the last 60 seconds of the 12 hours treadmill run. http://tweetreel.com/?b1c3r

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved, especially to this year’s Special Events committee and to all my awesome volunteers. I met some amazing people this weekend and I hope that our paths will cross again! Until next year…

I know that Tara will most likely get around to uploading some of her photos in the next few days but I just wanted to share a few of them with you. These haven’t been polished yet but I still think they are awesome!

Rewind – 2009 Statistics

Alex — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:22:22 +0000

I wanted to share with you some of my most popular posts from 2009. My articles were by far the most popular taking up over 40% of my visits. Second to that were my reviews of local talent. This has given me a clear indication of what to write about this year. Thanks to everyone who has passed by my blog in 2009, i hope you will continue to visit and interact more using the new easy commenting system.

Tips for an A+ Singing Audition – May 19th, 2009: Nowadays most of the time you will have to fill in an application for an audition and in today’s world many of them ask you for your online profile links. This can be a make or break for you. If your like me and you have some rather… [READ MORE]

The Art of Self Promotion : Performers Guide – May 21st, 2009: Its true! We all have to start somewhere. Before i begin telling you my advice and lecturing you as some would say, i wanted to start by telling you a success story. About 4 years ago i was… [READ MORE]

HRM Talent is Not too Shabby – April 17th, 2009: Before i begin i would like to thank all those who have submitted a demo track or two over the past few weeks. If you have not already submitted your track then you still have some time. I wanted to take a little bit of time… [READ MORE]

Neptune is similar in composition to Uranus – April 25th, 2009: I meant that title. Literally. It has been an eventful week. The weather has been wonderful so i am starting to meet with some amazing people from the Halifax area. Though every now again something seems… [READ MORE]

Introducing: Brittany Wesley – December 11th, 2009: I have been sitting on this nest-egg for a while now, but i am very pleased to introduce you to Brittany Wesley. 18 year-old Brittany is currently studying Biology at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She has embraced music from… [READ MORE]

Pre-Mixer hits off the Blue Nose Week! – May 11th, 2009: Since 7am this morning I have been on the road. My day started off with a number of meetings in Dartmouth and Halifax and then myself and Tara headed to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for the sound… [READ MORE]

RE: Wells Journal – February 25th, 2009: This post is in response to the article printed by the Wells Journal on the 26th February 2009. Last Thursday i presented a proposal to the City Council of Wells. I spoke to them about my plans for the Pride of Wells which… [READ MORE]

Haliwards – Advanced Preview – June 18th, 2009: Today is the day we release to you the Haliwards Advanced Preview. There has been a tremendous buzz about this project since i first mentioned it just over a week ago. Many of you have tweeted… [READ MORE]

Welcoming a New Decade

Alex — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:42:43 +0000

Firstly i would like to begin by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. It seems hard to believe that its been ten years since the millennium. I guess the calendar isn’t lying so it must be true. I am very excited about 2010. It’s rare for me to go into a new year with a project already in motion but i am pleased that the Haliwards made an unexpected comeback in December. The public response to the Haliwards has been overwhelming and talks still continue between me and HRM. It also gives me great pleasure to launch the Pride of Central Somerset 2010 in the next few days. I hope that it will be as successful as last year which really took the project to a new level. It will be a first for me to have two similar projects running with one on either side of the Atlantic.

2010 is not only a year for recurring annual projects it’s also a year to spread by wings and to develop some new ideas. Over the past few months several projects have begun to take shape and are in there very early stages, so early that i have made no public announcements about them.

It’s not only a year for my projects either. I am very much looking forward to working with the Blue Nose Marathon this year. In 2009 i helped co-organize a pre-mixer at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and this year i hope to do the same as well as sit on the Board of Chairs for the Special Events Committee
Between all of this i hope to continue my work with local artists. 2009 introduced some very talented people, including Joe Buck, Adam Sterling and Brittany Wesley. It has been a pleasure listening to their music and i hope to receive more tracks from Haligonian hopefuls throughout the year.

Many of you know through 2009 i participated as a volunteer for many events in the HRM and while i have every intention of doing the same this year i hope that some of your projects may find me. If you have a project in mind and you’re looking for that extra boost in the right direction i would be more than happy to look over your project plan or hear your ideas and offer any ‘injection’ i can.

Best Wishes for 2010,

Alex Maine

Blue Nose: Post-Marathon

Alex — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:40:48 +0000

So that’s it! Blue Nose is done and dusted for another year. I was going to write a huge post about this weekend but then i thought to myself there are loads of articles out there already so i just wanted to share with you some great photographs that Tara took this weekend at the Youth Run.

I really hope that next year if i am still in the area i will be a lot more involved with the Marathon planning because i really enjoyed this weekend and i feel that there are so many ways the marathon could ‘better’ itself. A special congratulations to all the members of the committee of which whom made everything run smoothly and a pat on the back to all the hard working volunteers. A job well done!

Now begins my search for the next project.. any thoughts?

Blue Nose: Pre-Marathon

Alex — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:43:38 +0000

So it’s Friday night. The countdown clock on the Scotiabank Blue Nose site is nearly down to zero and everyone is getting prepared for a manic weekend. What normally for me would be a weekend of mass twittering its sadly not. My iPod is in for servicing so i have to rely on my partners laptop and texting.

This post is part of a 2-piece. I will be posting on Monday/Tuesday and that will be my Post-Marathon article. Now you know where i am coming from its time to fill in the gaps of what is coming your way this weekend.

DOCTORS NOVA SCOTIA YOUTH RUN
ROUTE & SCHEDULE | REGISTER | INTERACTIVE MAP

I will be arriving in Halifax around 9am and have a number of things to attend too. After this i will be located at the World Trade Convention Centre where i will spend most of the morning working with the Volunteer Team. If i get time to i hope to go out and watch the Youth Run. For the rest of the day i will be remain at the WTCC so if you want to come and say hello you are more than welcome too. Its always nice to meet new people from the area especially fellow twitterers.

Sunday is the busy day. I will be in Halifax from around 8am and will be in the city all day and all night. I have no idea whether i will be coming or going in regards to the races. All i know for sure is that i will be at the Post Part at the World trade Convention Centre which starts at 7pm so i hope you will be able to join us.

From myself and the Volunteer Committee enjoy your weekend.
I will be available on my cell if you need me 878-0083.

Pre-Mixer hits off the Blue Nose Week!

Alex — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:18:13 +0000

Since 7am this morning I have been on the road. My day started off with a number of meetings in Dartmouh and Halifax and then myself and Tara headed to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for the sound checks for the Blue Nose Marathon Pre-Mixer.

Around 100 people attended which was a little disappointing seeing over 400 invitations were sent out but it didn’t damper my spirit. I had my duties so nothing else mattered. I kicked off with my opening speech around 6 which was a little later than I had planned. I welcomed the volunteers and touched on the Halifax Fires a few weeks ago and thanked the Mayor and his team, and the emergency services for their hard work which was met by a round of applause from the attendees. Following this Mayor Peter Kelly shared a few words of wisdom and said that he appreciates the work that people do and that people like them make what the community is today.

We went on to display a video of last years marathon. This was followed by speeches from Rod McCulloch & Gerry Walsh the founders and organisers. Included was speeches from the volunteer coordinators Amy, Jackie, and Isabelle. It was nice to meet some of the volunteers. Most of what happened after this was general ‘mingling’ and enjoying a wonderful selection off food… of which 20% is now in our fridge.

I was also very pleased to introduce twitter to the mixer. It was just something to glance up at from time to time while passing through to speak to the volunteers. Yes! I took them into the 21st century and they liked it! Most of the Blue Nose committee had no idea that people were discussing Blue Nose online. So maybe we will see an official Twitter account appearing for them soon. (Though a personal note, Twitter next time choose a better time for maitnenece. sigh)

I think that seeing this was the first pre-mixer it went rather well. Amy has already asked if i will be ‘hands on’ with next year and i hope that from what everyone has learnt this year we and the committee can improve on years to come. I didn’t have much input on this year as i only agreed to do this several weeks ago but still i gladly offer my time for the good of the community.

Well i look forward to see you at the Marathon this weekend. I will be stationed at the Volunteer Lounge at the World Trade Centre and i am sure i will make my way out on to the route when i get chance. Oh and one other reminder. The Marathon after Party is taking place at the World Trade Convention Centre on Sunday May 17th starting at 7PM. Its set to be a fantastic evening so I hope you will all join us. Until then..

I hope to see you on the route.

All of the Pre-Mixer photographs can be found on Tara MacPhee’s blog.
CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Blue Nose Marathon – Pre-Mixer Event

Alex — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:10:05 +0000

On the 11th of May the Blue Nose Marathon Pre-Mixer event will be taking place at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. This event is for all volunteers of the Marathon.

The evening will consist of a few speeches from the organizers of the Marathon, other members of the committee and a few words from myself. Along with some light entertainment See it as a night to mingle with fellow volunteers.

A week or so ago i was contacted by the Marathon Volunteer Chair Amy Wodz who is organising the Pre-Mixer, i offered to give some of my time towards this little event and offer my experience in similar activities. The event starts at 5:30 and continues through till around 7 with speeches starting around 6. So i hope you can join us.

For those of you who are technically savvy, well we have some good news. I am hoping to introduce Twitter to this pre-mixer event so when discussing the Marathon online please use the new hash-tag #bluenose. Thats all folks. I look forward to meeting you all. Make sure you all come say hello.

Quick personal note, a special thanks to everyone who has wished me a Happy Birthday today. It’s not everyday you turn 21! Sad that i couldnt spend it with my family but lifes presses on. A special thanks to Tara for all her support recently. Shes a star ^^

AFTER EVENT POST HERE