Put September 1st on your must-see list as 97 runners course through Dryden’s streets and trails in the Second annual ‘We Run This City’ half-marathon and 10 k road races.
Organized and conceived by Race Director Liz Godin of the “Young Professionals” a sub-division of the Dryden Chamber of Commerce, the groups goal is to raise money to improve Dryden’s recreational infrastructure. This year’s race earnings will go to upgrades of the Dryden Ski Club Nordic Trail System.We Run This City is made up of three separate events: the 21 k half-marathon, the 10 km race and a mini race for young children.
According to Godin, as of Wed. August 22nd, 32 runners have registered for the half marathon of which 19 are female and 13 are male. The 10k has 55 participants of which 33 are female and 22 males. No further registrations take place on race day. However, for the children’s mini-races registration takes place on race day.
The course winds through the city with loops and out and back portions. The surface varies considerably from dirt trails in the Laura Howe Marsh to interlocking stone and gravel on the riverside trails to pavement on the roads.
Over 50 Drydenites have volunteered to manage the race for such jobs as registering children for their fun run, marking out the course with chalk on the road, controlling traffic, directing the runners as course marshals, working the water stations, timing the runners and so forth. Many are Rotarians as Liz spoke to us and asked for assistance in July.
The race starts and finishes at the Van Horne Government Dock. Start times are staggered. The Half-Marathon begins at Half Marathon @ 8:00 A.M.; the 10 KM Fun Run/Walk @ 8:15 A.M. and the Kids Race @ 8:30 A.M.
The race is not organized in age categories, and awards are made to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both the half-marathon and 10 km. runs. In 2018, the fastest half-marathon times were 1 hr, 47 min, 52 sec. by Bill Doherty and 1 hr, fifty-four min., 12 sec. by Thunder Bay’s Rachael Anishinabie.
Come on out, bring a lawn chair and cheer on the runners as they pass by.