Entries for the second annual RunWild Leading Edge Marathon have been capped at 2,000 for the May 6 competition.
The deadline is April 26 to register for the marathon, half-marathon walk/run, 10-kilometre walk/run, five-km walk/run and the WildOnes Marafun for kids.
As of Wednesday, 1,265 entries had been processed.
“We’re really pleased with how many we have,” said race director Anita Cassidy. “From last year we learned that people like to sign up at the last minute. They wait until closer to the race to get their registrations in so we expect the numbers to start increasing quite rapidly.”
To register, visit www.RunWild.ca or any Running Room location.
Last year’s registration total of 1,650 included 153 marathon runners. There were 541 finishers in the half marathon, 323 completed the 10 km run and 300 did the five km.
“We’re real excited that it was such a success. We had a lot of positive feedback,” Cassidy said. “We’re happy to have a community event that everyone can get involved in; kids, walkers and runners of all ages. It’s something that people in St. Albert, if they are not volunteering or participating, they can still come out and enjoy the day. We’ll have a beer gardens and a kids fun zone so there are lots of activities that people can come and take part in.”
The post-race Celebration Village festivities made it a day to remember.
“Everyone was really pleased and shocked that it had an event village at the end because there is not a lot of races out there that have a beer gardens and things for the kids,” Cassidy said. “Usually they finish the race and leave, but this time they stayed for a few hours and visited with friends. Families came out to enjoy the day. It was a different event for people and they really enjoyed it.”
The location of the Celebration Village has been moved from Millennium Park to Lions Park.
“There is a play structure for the kids. There are some indoor washrooms and a covered area for the beer gardens. There is also some indoor space for our massage therapy in the seniors’ centre,” Cassidy said.
The courses through the streets of St. Albert and the Red Willow trail system have also been tweaked. The finish area is located on Taché Street. To view the routes, visit www.RunWild.ca.
“The marathon is mostly the same route but we did take out a hill,” Cassidy said. “We changed the half and the five and the 10 a bit more significantly.”
The 42-km marathon kicks off the RunWild event at 7 a.m. in front of St. Albert Place. The 21.1-km half marathon goes at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 10 km at 7:45 a.m. and five km at 8 a.m. The WildOnes Marafun starts at 11:30 a.m. from the airplane display on Taché Street.
Marc Meunier, the winner of the first marathon in St. Albert’s 150-year history, will defend his RunWild crown. His time last year was two hours, 58 minutes, 21 seconds. In January, the Paul Kane High School athletic director completed a marathon in Phoenix in 2:45.
Jason Yorke of Edmonton was the top finisher in the half marathon in 1:25:37.
Jenesse Rokos of St. Albert was the fastest 10 km runner at 36:07 and Dylan Green of St. Albert finished first in the five km at 21:27.
The RunWild event is host by Leading Edge Physiotherapy. All proceeds will benefit the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club and the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
“We’re a small business trying to make a big difference in the community, while raising money for two really important charities,” Cassidy said.
