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

By Sheldon Spackman

May 21, 2023

Woody’s RV World Marathon and Half Marathon quickly approaching

Apr 20, 2023 | 12:03 PM

We are now just one month out for the 23^rd Annual Woody’s RV World Marathon and Half Marathon in Red Deer next month.

Described as Alberta’s River Run, the Sunday, May 21, 2023 event also includes a 10K and 5K run for participants to compete in.

Curtis Marquart, Race Director, says the 5K and 10K runs begin at 8:00 a.m., with the marathoners and half marathoners starting at 8:15 a.m. or so.

“The course starts and ends on 42A Avenue, which is right in front of Camille J. Lerouge School, in between Camille and Lindsay Thurber High School,” he explains. “From there, you go onto 55^th Street and then you cut across by that corner store there and then the rest of the race is on the city trails.”

“The part that makes it special is that 95-98 per cent of our race is on our city trails and that’s the biggest compliment we get from everybody who participates in it, is that they love the race course,” adds Marquart. “It’s not on the city streets, so you’re running through the trees, by the river and stuff like that and it has its natural beauty that everybody enjoys.”

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After a two year break due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, Marquart says there were over 1,100 registrants last year upon the event’s return, a number he anticipates reaching again this year as well. He also notes the need for volunteers at this year’s event.

“We have everything from course marshals standing on the course pointing the runners in the directions they need to go, the race package pickup volunteers we need there to hand out the t-shirts and race bibs and all that stuff, the finish line to give out the medals and the water to our finishers and all that stuff in between,” says Marquart.

“Our charity of choice this year is the Red Deer Food Bank,” he points out. “So when you go to register, there is the opportunity to make a donation to the food bank. Then after the race, all our donations are given to the food bank and you get a taxable receipt out of it.”

To register, volunteer, or find out more, visit reddeermarathon.ca.