The first female home in the Run for Heroes Marathon in Amherstburg, Ont. last Sunday, was actually entered in the Half Marathon, but missed the turn for the half  and ended up running the full 42 kms. And winning!

Meredith Fitzmaurice was using the race as a training run for her first marathon in Detroit later this year. Around about the 1 hour 30 mark, she started wondering where the finish line was. With a sneaking suspicion she’d missed the half marathon turn, she asked one of the bike officials on the course, who confirmed her mistake.

She then thought she’d just run 20 miles and call it a day, but when she reached a turnaround point and could see people coming towards her, she could count only nine men ahead of her, and no women. Unbelievably, she was the leading woman.

“So as I’m running I’m wondering if my race is going to count, I’m thinking about my friend who is at the finish line probably wondering where I am since I have the keys to the car.”

After confirming with an official that her entry and time would be counted in the marathon, and would be considered for a qualifying time in the Boston Marathon,  she decided to give it a crack.

Have you ever taken a “wrong turn” in life and ended up in a great place?

See the full story in the Montreal Gazette

 

Image courtesy of stoonn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net