Runners and walkers reach for the “Summit”

There are about 500 runners and walkers expected to descend on Prince Albert's Rotary Trail on Sunday for the seventh annual Summit Run.

The event, which includes a half marathon as well as 10- and five-kilometre runs, has been gaining in popularity each year and is now reaching heights officials had envisioned, said Lisa Evans, race organizer.

“We were hoping that someday we would achieve this success, so it's nice to see that transpire and every year seeing people coming back to try and beat their times, or new people coming up to Prince Albert to do a run for the first time. It's fantastic to see,” she said.

There are several reasons for the popularity of the Prince Albert race including location, said Evans.

“It's the largest run in the northern part of the province, so I think it's really nice to have our outlying communities, our farming communities, our northern communities coming to Prince Albert as well as runners from Saskatoon and people at the lake coming down from their cabins doing the run that way. I think that's one of the attractions of our run,” she said.

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Another good thing about the run is the Rotary Trail itself, said Evans.

“The Rotary Trail has been a fantastic addition to the city and we are very fortunate for the Summit run to be able to use it because it give us an excellent venue for runners, very scenic down by the river, also flat for the five kilometre and 10 kilometre and runners really enjoy a nice flat course as well for those who are wanting to beat their times,” she said.

New to the event this year is a two kilometre walk or run at the request of several people, said Evans.

“We have people interested in bringing their family members out and so we have the two kilometre run or walk and for example my mum is going to be taking my two little ones, three and five years old to do the walk while my dad runs the five kilometre, so that's what we are hoping the event will bring that element this year where younger and older members of a family can come out and enjoy a walk while others are doing a run,” she said.

This is the third year the race will be run on Father's Day. The number of participants has increased since the move from early August. However organizers are contemplating another move to the fall to accommodate people who have summer plans and want to take part.

Registrations are being accepted up until Saturday and Evans said a lot of t-shirts are still available.

dwilson@rawlco.com