Woody's RV World Marathon trailer at a previous race. (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

May 22: May Long... We Run

Woody’s RV World Marathon coming back to Red Deer in May

Mar 24, 2022 | 1:05 PM

It’s time to lace up again because the Woody’s RV World Marathon is back in Red Deer this spring.

After a two year pause from the pandemic, the 22^nd event will now be hosted over the May long weekend on May 22.

“Our event and our race is basically known for its beautiful scenic route that we have and fantastic volunteers,” said Curtis Marquart, Race Director & Treasurer.

A play on words from the Neil Young song “Long May We Run”, marathon volunteer Dianne Goodman came up with the race name “May Long… We Run” for this year’s event.

The funds raised will once again go to the Red Deer Hospice Society, providing a home for the terminally-ill in central Alberta. The 16-bed facility offers the quiet and caring environment at no cost to patients or their families.

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“When you’ve seen what they do for the community, for the people there, it’s something pretty special,” he said.

Hitting close to home for the marathon’s volunteers, the hospice was also chosen in honor of Lacombe-local Bill Nielsen, a prominent runner in the community who carved many of the town’s trails before passing away at the hospice.

Participants can register by May 19 for a full marathon (42.2 km) and half marathon (21.1 km) for $75. The 10 km run is $60 while the kid’s race is $25 for a maximum of 100 participants. Finally, new this year is the 5 km run at $50.

All runs are mapped along the Red Deer River and trail system and the first 500 registrants will receive a free Woody’s race buff.

And if you may not think of yourself as a runner just yet, the Red Deer Runners group has you covered with a run clinic to help participants prepare for the marathon. A 3 km Friendship Run will also be held on Saturday, May 21 as a practice for participants.

The top three male and female runners will win $300, $200, and $100 respectively in cash for each of the full, half, and 10 km runs. As well, the top female and male runners in each race will have a free entry to next year’s race to “defend their crown”.

Meet-up time is 7 a.m. at École Camille J. Lerouge School (5530 42a Ave). Race Package pick-ups for bibs, timing chip and souvenir shirt will be available at the school before the race day only on May 20-21.

“We’re just excited to be back and as our poster says, ‘May Long, We Run’,” said Marquart.

The Woody’s RV World Marathon is an official Boston Marathon Qualifier.

For more information, visit http://www.reddeermarathon.ca/.

Woody’s RV World Marathon 2022 poster. (Facebook)