The Rupert Runners Club will be hosting the 31st annual Half Marathon Plus 8 K Run next Sunday, April 15, with the run starting at 1 p.m. in front of the Lester Centre of the Arts.
“I started running three years ago… the first run I ever did was this one, and it was such a good motivator for me and gave me such a sense of accomplishment,” Said Race Director, Jennifer Rice, who took on the running event two years ago after the original organizers moved out of town.
“When people are first learning how to run, or are getting back into running, it’s good to have these kinds of things as little milestones in their journey in becoming a full-on runner.”
There will be three options for runners wishing to participate, the first being a half marathon, where partakers will be running out Highway 16 until the Galloway Rapids Rest area, where they will turn around and head back towards town.
“It’s the first race of the season so people are kind of rusty and stiff and they haven’t been training so it’s nice to start off with a shorter run,” Said Rice.
There will also be an option for duos to participate in a two-person relay, with one runner beginning the race at the Lester Centre, with partners switching off at the Galloway Rapid rest area to continue on until the designated ending area. There will not be transportation methods provided, so partakers must have their own ride.
Anyone hoping to tackle the full 8-kilometer route will be running a course out and back along Highway 16, starting and ending at the Lester Centre.
No support vehicles will be permitted on the course during the race, except at the designated switch over location at Galloway Rapids.
After the race, there will be an awards ceremony, as well as refreshments and opportunities for runners to shower at the pool being made available.
Additionally, there will be draw prizes donated by local businesses for runners who did not place in the top three.
Anyone wishing to register for the run can do so by mail by making a cheque payable to the Rupert Runners and sending a completed registration form (which can be found at the club’s website, www.rupertrunners.com) to:
Rupert Runners
P.O. Box 22093 RPO Downtown
Prince Rupert, B.C.
V8J 4P8.
People can also register in person on Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m to 12 p.m. at the Civic Centre, or on the day of the race, Sunday, April 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The cost to register will be $25 for individuals, $50 for two-person teams.
“The long, dreary winter we’ve had in Prince Rupert [makes] it great to get out and get those endorphins going. Running is a great way of achieve that,” Commented Rice.
