Growing Canberra Marathon Field
From CoolRunning Australia
13 March 2007
Back to Canberra Marathon
Canberra Marathon race organisers set a target of 1000 marathon participants for next month’s marathon and early indications are that target will be met.
Nine hundred and sixty three runners entered the 30th Canberra Marathon last year so it will require a modest growth of around four per cent to top the 1000 mark. At the end of last week, with just one week left before the close of early entries, entrants were up by eight per cent. Postal and fax entries close this Friday, 16 March. Co-race director Fran Seton said, “The only opportunity to enter after this Friday is on race weekend so we encourage all intending runners, whether they propose entering the marathon or one of our associated events, to lodge their entries now and avoid the price increase on race weekend.”
The associated events on the Canberra Marathon program are the Asics Marathon Eve 5km and 10km Fun Runs and the Kids Marathon.
For the first time, the Saturday fun runs will be held as separate events. The 5km will start at 3pm and the 10km at 4pm. This will be the 21st annual Marathon Eve 10km and the 5km event was added to the program in 1994. After 12 years the 5km has grown to the extent that it is now a stand-alone event.
Seton explained, “The 5km has become very popular with families, with an equal number of males and females, and a good mix of runners and walkers. This event will be a great way to kick-start the weekend of marathon activities”. Record numbers have already entered the Kids Marathon with a great response from Canberra schools, such as St Judes at Holder, Red Hill and Garran Primary, Canberra Grammar and Bungendore Primary. Entries for this event close on Friday and, unlike the marathon and fun runs, there are no late entries for this event.
“Children have to run 40km across an approximate eight week period in the lead up to marathon day so it is not appropriate to allow young people to register during the last four weeks,” explained Seton.
Full details of the marathon and associated events, including entry forms, are at http://www.canberramarathon.com.au. The marathon is a member of AIMS (the Association of International Marathons) and is sanctioned by Athletics Australia and the International Ultrarunners Association. It is supported by Asics and the Australian Capital Tourism Corporation.
Dave Cundy
RACE DIRECTOR
13 March 2007
