Born in St. Catharines and now happily rooted in Welland, Ontario, Dawn is a vibrant, creative, and adventure-loving woman who embraces life with the energy of someone twenty years younger. Passionate about art, cycling, and meaningful connections, she lives each day with curiosity, joy, and a touch of playful mischief.
Have you ever had a great idea pop into your mind—and then your brain decides to fully agree with it? Well, that sort of happened to me.
Let me start by saying, “I used to be a runner.” Back in the day, I did my share of early-morning training runs—5 km, 10 km, and even a half-marathon race. Those were the days when my knees didn’t argue with me morning, noon, and night! At every race I did, I loved the atmosphere. They call it a “runner’s high.”
Everyone was so giddy at the start, and at the finish, everyone was happy and complimentary: Great race. That was fun. I’m so glad that’s over.
What do I see in common between running a race and the Sole Sisters? The atmosphere. There isn’t a single Ramble I’ve attended where the ladies aren’t happy and full of compliments. It’s such a great feeling—just like when I used to run.
One night (probably around 3 a.m., when I couldn’t sleep), that brain of mine started thinking about my running days and then about my Sole Sisters. As I lay there wide awake, I thought, We should host a marathon.
Ah, the great ideas that come at 3 a.m.
This idea bounced around in my head for a few days. Then I started sharing it with a few of the ladies while we were out on a Ramble. They all said, “Yes, let’s do it.” Once again, the group was positive and open to a new idea. Before I knew it, a planning committee had formed, and we were off to the races—literally.
On Saturday, February 14, 2026, the St. Catharines/Niagara (Ontario, Canada) group hosted our first marathon. Since it was Valentine’s Day, we called it the “Share the Love Mini Marathon.”
We hosted the event just like a real race. There was a registration table, bibs with numbers, and a start line. Along the course, we placed motivational signs, and at the end, there was a finish line, medals, a post-race party (beverages and munchies), swag bags, and prize draws.
The event took place in a naturalization park, and the course was 3 km long. With about 60 cm of snow on the ground, running was definitely out of the question—but walking suits us just fine at this stage of life! As our sisters walked the snowy path, the motivational signs encouraged them along the way.
Then, as they crossed the finish line, a medal was placed around each neck. Just like the races I used to run, the smiles were huge when those medals went on—and everyone proudly wore them for the rest of the morning.
The post-race celebration featured fun music, baked goods, and hot chocolate. Each “racer” received a swag bag with a Love bracelet and a Sole Sister keychain. We also held a few draws for Sole Sister merchandise.
For many of the women, this was their very first marathon, which made it even more special. I’ve since heard from a few who put their bib and medal into a shadow box that now hangs proudly in their living room. How cool is that?
This was our first marathon, but we’re already starting to plan our second for next February. Stay tuned for more of our adventures.
I also had another idea: how amazing would it be if other Sole Sister groups hosted a marathon on the same day next year?
Is your group up for it?
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