While many running events are seeing a decline with a struggling economy, the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon is seeing strong numbers.
The seventh annual event is set for this Sunday, September 11 at the Badlands Community Facility. It features a 5K family run, a 10K race and a full half marathon. Organizer Jens Madsen says registration is up, with 465 already signed up to run.
“Last year we had 392 at cut off, so we are quite a ways ahead of last year’s registrations,” said Madsen. “I think there is room for the Dinohalf to grow, it is a great venue and a great event… I think we could do 1,000 people or more.”
He said this year so far the 5K was leading the way insofar as registrations. This year McDonald’s has promoted the event, and gave families a chance to register free, which helped to boost the number for the family walk and run.
There are some changes this year for the 10K and half marathon course.
“We have simplified the half marathon, and have added a stretch of river run to the 10K,” said Madsen. “So the 10K is much nicer to run.”
There are changes to the courses as they wind through downtown was well. The 10K will leave the Badlands Community Facility from the east side entrance and head west along Riverside Drive to Centre Street, and then along 2nd Avenue to 2nd Street where it will head across the bridge towards North Drumheller.
The half marathon will leave the BadlandS Community Facility and head along Riverside Drive to 5th Street East and then heads west on North Railway Avenue and will pass through downtown on 3rd Avenue. It will continue to McConkey Park before heading back along Riverside Drive West to the Gordon Taylor Bridge. From there, it heads through the badlands to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and then returns to the Badlands Community Facility.
For those who want to take on the course, but have yet to register, they have until midnight on Thursday, September 8 to sign up. After that, registration can be taken in person at the Badlands Community Facility at 4 p.m., Friday, and then Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On race day, registrations can be taken up to one hour before the event.
The event has been a great supporter of the community and in previous years has donated the proceeds to the Badlands Community Facility. This year it hopes to push its total contribution to the community to $100,000, to continue to support health and wellness in the community.
