Organizers of the first marathon in St. Albert history are projecting more than 1,000 runners will hopefully compete in the May 15 event.
“We’re trying to make this as big as we can,” said Anita Cassidy, race director for the RunWild Leading Edge Marathon. “We’re going to push hard for local participation.”
The race will also help commemorate the city’s 150th anniversary.
“We treat a lot of runners at the [Leading Edge Physiotherapy] clinic. There is a lot of enthusiasm about running in St. Albert and a lot of active people,” Cassidy said. “We wanted to put on a run and get the community involved, as well as promote health and wellness in St. Albert. It also worked out perfectly that St. Albert is having its 150th anniversary and since there has never been a marathon held in the city, we thought that would make a good year to do it.”
It will also help raise money for the Edmonton-based Zebra Child Protection Centre, a non-profit organization that enables the community to respond to child abuse with a professional, compassionate and highly integrated program of healing and justice. The website is www.zebracentre.ca. The fundraising goal is $100,000.
“It’s a real great charity. It’s also the first centre of its kind in Canada,” Cassidy said.
The 42-kilometre marathon route is split between the Red Willow Trail system and the streets of St. Albert
“We start [at 7 a.m.] in front of St. Albert Place. We use as much of the trail system as we can and the road way too,” Cassidy said. “We wind up through Akinsdale and out towards the Sturgeon Valley golf course, in through Oakmont, up the trails through Lacombe Park, through Deer Ridge and then up Grandin and Levasseur. The end point for all the runs — we have a five-K, 10-K, half-marathon and a full marathon — is Millennium Park.”
For more information, contact Cassidy at 780-458-2669 or visit www.RunWild.ca.
Full event passes for the seventh annual World Financial Group Continental Cup have been moving faster than a Marc Kennedy takeout shot and organizers are advising fans to get their seats now for the Jan. 13 to 16 curling classic at Servus Credit Union Place.
The full event pass guarantees your seat at Performance Arena for all four days of the action. Priced at $275 (subject to applicable box office charges), tickets can be purchased by calling 780-4521-8000 or online at www.seasonofchampions.ca.
“We need to begin making way for new ticket packages, so as of Nov. 30 only a limited number of seats will still be available for full event purchases,” said Mike Howes, host committee chair. “We strongly suggest that fans act now so they’re not disappointed.”
The Continental Cup brings together the finest players in the world, competing in a unique challenge format. Team North America faces Team World in four different disciplines. Six teams on each side — three men’s, led by Kevin Martin’s Olympic gold-medal winning rink of John Morris, Kennedy of St. Albert and Ben Hebert — and three women’s face-off in team games, mixed doubles, singles and skins competitions. Points are awarded for the outcome of each match with a total of 400 on the line. The first team to reach 201 earns the title, meaning every single shot carries championship implications.
Every draw pass also includes complimentary admission to Keith’s Patch, the legendary party place where curling fans and competitors alike gather for a great line-up of food, refreshments and live entertainment. The social centre of the Continental Cup features performances by Hey Romeo (Jan. 13), The Chevelles (Jan. 14) and Souled Out (Jan. 15).
For more information, contact Howes at 780-699-4539 or [email protected].
The St. Albert Skyhawks host Vimy Ridge today at 4:45 p.m. in the Edmonton zone 3A women’s volleyball elimination tournament.
The winner will play the Holy Trinity Trojans, the 2010 metro Edmonton premier conference finalists and last year’s premier champions or the Ardrossan Bisons in Thursday’s final for the right to compete at next week’s 3A provincials in Lloydminster.
Last year the Trojans eliminated the Skyhawks in the zone final.
In Monday’s quarter-finals, the Skyhawks defeated Old Scona 3-1 at the SkyDome.
In league play, the Skyhawks placed sixth at 6-5. In the opening playoff round they dropped a close five-set decision to the Paul Kane Blues, the eventual premier champions.
