Filmmaker celebrates turning 50 by running Fundy Footpath in 17 hours

Mark Hemmings celebrated his 50th birthday by running the Fundy Footpath. (Source: Mark Hemmings)

Two years ago, Mark Hemmings celebrated his 49th birthday and he decided he wanted to do something special to mark his upcoming 50th.

“The idea of turning 50…I assumed it would carry pretty heavy existential questions,” he said. “When I turned 40, I thought I was old.

“Maybe I should challenge myself for something that will be radically opposite from what I’m expecting from my physical frame and mental state.”

Hemmings, a filmmaker, ultimately decided to run the Fundy Footpath in New Brunswick and document the entire journey. His trek through the wilderness is now preserved as “Fastest Known Time on the Fundy Footpath,” which is one of the films on display at the upcoming Outdoor Outdoor Film Festival in Saint John.

Hemmings, who got into trail running in recent years, discovered the Fastest Known Time, a website that lets people record their runs in scenic routes around the world – and challenge others to best their times.

“It’s an international competition where you race against other people, but you do it alone,” Hemmings said. “The Fundy Footpath sounded amazing. It’s a bit daunting.”

The Footpath, which spans 42 kilometres along the Bay of Fundy coastline, attracts hundreds of runners and hikers to it every year. According to the Fastest Known Time website, Chris Watson is the current record holder for the trail, having completed it in six hours and 20 minutes in 2021.

Hemmings spent a year training for the run, joining multiple races with the Saint John Trail Running group. He also hiked the entire Fundy Footpath once to get a feel for it.

“The filming part was quite easy,” he said. “I knew how to pre-plan and use specific cameras. We had to keep it really light.”

In April 2024, which was the month Hemmings turned 50, he set out with two friends at 4:30 a.m.

“It was dark so we were using headlamps,” he said. “It was a fairly cold morning. Not many people do Fundy Footpath in April.”

As the group transitioned from groomed trails to untamed wilderness, Hemmings said they held a relaxed pace and took occasional breaks. Seventeen-and-a-half hours later, they made it to the other side in St. Martins.

“There’s always a risk in running a long or difficult trail,” Hemmings said. “You can sprain an ankle, whole host of problems that come when you go faster than hiking. I was just exhausted at the end.”

Hemmings said the editing process for the film was one of the longest and hardest parts of the entire project.

“Ninety-five per cent of the time, I’m behind the camera,” he said. “We’re always very critical of ourselves.

“It’s not easy to get into the Outdoor Outdoor Film Festival. I had to shorten my movie down from 40 minutes to 18, which was emotionally very hard because I had to cut out some visual gems.”

The Outdoor Outdoor Film Festival features movies set in the nature that highlight adventures in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

“I’m very grateful to be accepted,” Hemmings said. “I hope the film encourages people to enjoy our natural trails. The more important narrative is someone dealing with ageing and turning 50. What happens emotionally when you hit that round number?”

The film festival will run at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16.

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