While running is generally considered to be an independent sport, local runners in Niverville are proving that a supportive community can push runners to reach their goals—and sometimes exceed them.

On June 15, about 60 runners from Niverville joined almost 13,000 participants of the Manitoba Marathon in Winnipeg. Among them were a high school teacher, a student eager to improve in the sport, and a local resident who saw a need and launched a run club.

Niverville High School math teacher and avid runner Giuseppe D’Amico ran the full marathon, placing fifth in the male 20–24 age category and thirty-fifth overall. After falling ill just weeks before the race, D’Amico adjusted his usual preparation but still finished in 3:03, shy of his 2:45–2:50 goal. 

“[Being sick] might have played a factor in finishing how I did, and it may not have,” says D’Amico. “There is a lot of being kind to yourself. I say that to my athletes and students at school. I also need to remember to practice what I preach. You need to be able to be okay with yourself. You’re going to have bad races and you’re going to have bad weeks. It’s just part of it, just like in life there are ups and downs.”

D’Amico began running in 2021 through the streets of Niverville.

“I started running to keep active over the COVID pandemic,” he says. “And then it became something I enjoy and somewhat of a hobby.”

Even in -30°C weather, he ran several times a week, often logging 25 to 37 kilometres on Saturdays and up to 120 kilometres total weekly before joining the local NIV Run Club, founded by another local marathon runner, Carson Wiebe.

Combining his background in classical history, mathematics, and teaching, D’Amico brings all three into his approach to the sport.

“Marathons come from an ancient Greek myth of a messenger running from the city of Marathon back to Athens to announce that they had won the war,” D’Amico explains. “And that distance is close to what the modern-day marathon is.”

The modern-day full marathon was later standardized at the current 42.195 kilometres.

“This year Richard Toews, a physical education teacher here [at NHS], and I have been continuing to grow our cross-country program,” he adds. “Two years ago, we had two students participate and this year we ended with over 20 signed up. This past fall, our junior varsity girls got silver at cross-country provincials.”

D’Amico worked with Wiebe to find another way to further develop his students’ running technique over the summer, inviting them to link up with the NIV Run Club in preparation for the short cross-country season in the fall.

As in teaching and life, running demands patience, rhythm, and belief in growth over time.

“You don’t need to run continuously to be a runner,” he says. “Drop by the NIV Run Club if you’re interested. That’s it. There are people at all levels to run with. End your run feeling good and being good to yourself.”

Among the growing number of cross-country and track students is Grade 10 student Natalie Froese, a student of D’Amico’s, who celebrated running her first half-marathon at this year’s Manitoba Marathon.

Froese placed fifth in her age category with a time of 1:47.

“I always knew that I wanted to join track, but when I tried I was so bad at it. I decided that I could not be this bad at something and that I had to get better,” Froese says. “Being part of a relay with teammates motivated me to want to improve my time. Throughout the summer I practiced and, in the fall, joined cross-country at the high school with the help and guidance of Mr. D’Amico.”

Eighteen weeks out from the half-marathon, D’Amico provided Froese and a few other students with a preparatory plan to enhance her running technique and endurance.

“Before the training plan, the longest I had run was six kilometres. When I saw that the first run on the training plan was ten kilometres, my first thought was ‘I have never done this before.’ But I did it and realized that it wasn’t so bad.”

Froese wants to encourage others who may be nervous to attempt a marathon.

“Personally, the adrenaline of the race helped a lot. If anyone is thinking they’re going to run a slow race, just bet on yourself. You’re probably more capable than you think.”

She aims to make the podium at the track and cross-country provincials this coming school year after a disappointing cancellation of the previous year’s competition due to poor air quality.

This summer, NIV Run Club offers a valuable space for high school students to train together in anticipation of fall’s short but intense cross-country season.

Carson Wiebe, founder of NIV Run Club, moved to Niverville with his wife Mikaela in 2017. Since then, he has laid down roots, growing their family with the addition of two children.

On June 15, his family was present at the Manitoba Marathon to cheer him on at the finish line. 

After making the decision to split from a 3:30 pacer-led group around the 16-mile mark, Wiebe was able to finish with a time faster than he had originally set out to achieve. He placed twenty-sixth in the male 30–34 age category and 140th overall with a time of 3:29.

In 2021, Wiebe began running solo through various Niverville neighbourhoods in the warmer months and took to the indoor track at the CRRC during the colder ones.

“It was apparent that there were many runners in this town, but no community program or run club available,” Wiebe says.

He went on to help launch the NIV Run Club in 2024 with the support of local sponsors, including Jessi from Country Snacks, who provides baked goods to participants, and Matthew Sieben from Railway Roasters in Winnipeg, who provides decaf coffee and cold brew.

“We meet every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Hespeler Park, choosing a new five-kilometre route through town,” he says. “Some weeks we see more than 20 runners showing up. Everyone is welcome. Runners will often break into smaller groups based on pace, sharing conversation, a love for running, and building new friendships. These are a few of the things that keep people coming back week after week.”

From students finding their stride to seasoned runners building a community, the Manitoba Marathon serves as a marker of personal progress and a reminder that solo efforts are often made stronger by the community around them.