Niagara’s Virtual Marathon for Marilyn

With the Niagara Falls International Marathon postponed until October, the organisers have arranged a virtual challenge with a Marilyn-inspired theme, the St. Catherine’s Standard reports.

“While filming the classic movie Niagara in the summer of 1952, Marilyn Monroe stayed in Room 801 at the Brock Hotel. The hotel has changed quite a bit over the last 69 years – it is now the Crowne Plaza Hotel – but to history and film and buffs, Room 801 on the eighth floor will always be synonymous with Marilyn Monroe.

To that end, Diane Chelsa and co-race director and husband Henri Ragetlie launched the 80.1 Niagara Marilyn Challenge, a virtual marathon where participants run or walk 80.1 kilometres in one day or over multiple days. Around 200 runners from across North America have registered to date as well as a few from Europe and Australia.

Registration remains open – at niagarafallsmarathon.com – and the 80.1 kilometres must be completed by April 30. Participants can compare their times to an online results board and everyone will receive a medal featuring an image of Marilyn in running shoes and a runner’s bib.

The event is also a fundraiser for Pathstone Mental Health, which provides free mental health services to children, youth and their families across Niagara.”