Runners battle the elements as Calgary Marathon celebrates 60 years
CTV
More than 13,000 runners took to the streets throughout the city on Sunday for the annual Calgary Marathon.
More than 13,000 runners took to the streets throughout the city on Sunday for the annual Calgary Marathon.
The marathon has been a tradition in Calgary for 60 years – with the first race taking place in 1963.
The race got off to a favourable start early in the morning, but rain eventually rolled in.
“Obviously, weather puts a little damper on things but, hey, we’re here for it and it's Calgary and we’re tough runners and we can make the best out of anything,” Kirsten Fleming, the executive director of Run Calgary, who organized the race, said.
The race offered several distances, including a 60-kilometre ultra, 42.2-kilometre marathon, 21.1-kilometre half-marathon, 10-kilometre, five-kilometre family run and walk and 1.2-kilometre kids’ marathon.
In total, there were 13,600 runners – the largest field in the past 10 years.
Fleming said 35 per cent of the runners participating were new to racing.
