The Jasper Canadian Rockies Half Marathon is inviting athletes to run through the national park on April 27.
Presented by Pursuit, the half marathon has already sold out, but the10-kilometre and five-kilometre runs still had space available.
As of last week, there were 1,300 athletes registered, which is about 150 more than at the same time last year.
“The numbers are finally swinging back to where they should be with the pre-COVID model,” said Trevor Soll, owner and director of MultiSportsCanada, which is hosting the half marathon in Jasper for the seventh time.
“If anything, the word of mouth spreading, so people are seeing it as a quality event early season. Obviously, with the weather this year, it’s been allowing people to [go out]. The snow hasn't really been [there], and the cold hasn't impacted people, so that makes it a lot more fitter to be able to do an event early in the season.”
The route remains the same as previous years, beginning at the RV parking lot near Home Hardware and crossing to highway to loop around Old Fort Point Road.
Running the entire distance will take athletes to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and beyond.
The event caters to locals, visitors and families looking for a race with distances for all ages and abilities.
The half marathon is 21.1 kilometres, and there will also be 10-kilometre, five-kilometre and one-kilometre runs, with the one-kilometre event being the Family Fun Run.
All participants will get a finisher beer that they can take home with them, courtesy of the Jasper Brewing Company.
Organizers are crossing their fingers that an act of nature doesn’t derail everyone’s good time.
“Weather is always an issue – if not weather, fire, because I know last year, right as the event ended, that's when the big fires started just east of Jasper, so athletes had to be detoured on the way put on the Sunday,” Soll said.
“Rain or snow, the race typically goes on, but with the potential for fire risk, that is our immediate concern. But again, nothing we can do about it. Whatever happens, happens.”
“The numbers are looking decent for those ones as well, so bringing athletes into Jasper is hopefully a win-win for the community and the charities we partnered with,” Soll said.
The Jasper Healthcare Foundation continues to be the charity partner and is still looking for volunteers to help.
Anyone interested in volunteering can reach out to Soll at 780-915-0693 or [email protected].
