Just four years old, the Moose Mountain Marathon is preparing for another great year, and giving everyone the head's up, in preparation for the next run.
Organized by Lucille Weber and Cathy Burton, the Moose Mountain Marathon is a fundraising event, with proceeds going to help the Arcola School track and field teams.
"It was great last year, we had about 65 runners take part," Weber said recently. "We raised about $2,000, and we used that money to make some equipment purchases for the team just recently."
Weber and Burton both began running some time ago, and it was their passion for the sport that led them to start the marathon.
"We thought about how nice it is here and up in the hills," Burton said. "We both thought, 'wow, I bet a lot of people would love to run here.'"
Offering stretches of five km, 10 km, and full marathon 21.1 km, participants are welcome to walk or run at their own pace.
"We have some competitive runners come out, sometimes from Saskatoon or Regina, but competition isn't really the point of it," Weber said. "We just want people to come out, get some exercise, enjoy the sights, and have some fun."
Despite the rains last year, the Moose Mountain Marathon went ahead unhindered, and both Weber and Burton are hoping to continue to grow the event.
"We advertise the run on the Runningroom.com," Weber said. "We've been getting runners from as far away as Winnipeg, and because marathon runs are a small community of people, I'm sure the word is getting around."
Already this year the pair have been fielding calls from interested parties who want to take part in the event.
"It's really great that we're getting a following now," Burton said. "We're happy with how enthusiastic everyone seems to be about it."
While the final route for the run is decided just a short time before the actual marathon, it always starts at Saskairie Place in the Moose Mountains, and offers runners and walkers a variety of scenery to enjoy.
"On the money side, it is a great way for us to get money together for the track program," Burton said. "When we went shopping for new equipment the other day, we were able to find what we needed for the team, and buy it on the spot."
"It's a lot easier to shop when there is money available!"
The Moose Mountain Marathon will be fun this year on Sunday, Aug. 12, at 7 a.m.
Registration for the event can be done online at this time by going to www.runningroom.com
Registration fees are $40 for the marathon, and $60 for the marathon and a race shirt.
You can also contact Cathy Burton at cathy.burton@cornerstone.sd.ca
