For the fourth year running the Community Futures Drumheller Valley Dinosaur Half Marathon brought out runners, walkers and well wishers for a Sunday morning of camaraderie, fun and accomplishment.
Runners and walkers explode out of the gate for the Dino-Half 5k walk and run.
It was a year of firsts for the event. It has new routes, using the Badlands Community Facility for home base, and a new record as Justin Kurek of Calgary crushed the course with a 1:15:47 at a pace of 3:37 minutes per kilometre. The avid runner competes in three or four events a season, and despite some local ties, this was his first time taking on the Dinosaur Half. He commended organizers for the hard work to put on the events.
“It was so well organized, hats off to the organizers,” he said to The Mail following the race.
Organizer Colin Kloot was happy with how the event turned out. While the numbers were down, it was like this for most events this year in the province.
“We had about 500 entries, but in speaking with the Running Room, who do all the online registrations for us, and do it for most of the races in Alberta, they have advised me that the floods affected everybody,’ said Kloot. “In Calgary, Okotoks and High River, all of these people’s running trails were wiped out, people’s houses have been wiped out, so their priorities have changed.”
While registration was slow on the pick-up, as the event approached, the numbers seemed to ride a crest. They are hoping numbers will bounce back next year.
Feedback for this year’s event was positive.
Dino-Half Marshall Bridget Unland had some enthusiastic help from Taylor, who is almost two, and Joshua , 4, on the course. Their cheers were much appreciated by runners as they passed through Midland last Sunday.
”I always make it a habit to walk around and ask participants of the 10k and half marathon what they thought of the routes and what we can do to change, and everyone was very complimentary,” said Kloot.
Another success was Pasta Night the evening before. Double D Catering served up a pasta dinner for the community where participants could load up on energy for the impending race. About 80 came out to fill up and Kloot sees potential in growing this event.
As always, the proceeds from the annual event are dedicated to the Badlands Community Facility and organizers will soon be announcing how much they were able to raise. In the first three years of the event they have donated $33,000 to the facility.
In the winner’s circle, Dino-half champ is congratulated. Pictured (l-r) are Brad Delure, Rich Trentham and Nicole McAvany of Calgary, with Moe and Marg Trentham, Justin and Audrey Kurek and Dick Trentham.
