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This is what it looks like to race in the Canadian Rockies

The Banff marathon, one of Canada's top destination races, took place on Sunday morning in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

Banff marathon

Ran a marathon in 10 km. #mybanff #banffmarathon #betterforit

A photo posted by taylor sudermann (@taylorsudermann) on

Nestled in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff, Alta. is one of the most beautiful spots in the country to host a road running event. The Banff marathon took place on Sunday morning and judging by the social media posts, runners weren’t disappointed with the backdrop.

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The half-marathon and marathon courses were changed on Friday to prevent further stress on a local wolf pack. Bear activity in the area also influenced the decision as recommended by Parks Canada. The race took place in Banff National Park, the country’s oldest national park.

Journeyman Brendan Lunty won the men’s marathon in 2:35:19 and the women’s marathon winner was Annie Starzynski in 3:31:28. Lunty has won more than two dozens races worldwide over his career including wins at the Edmonton marathon and multiple wins at the Queen City marathon in Regina.

It was a cool and somewhat wet morning for running in Banff but the backdrop of the mountains was sure to help distract runners for portions of the course. The town is well-known for its outdoor activities including skiing, climbing and hiking throughout the year.

The resort town is located approximately 1,400 metres above sea level. The Banff marathon first began in 2014 and has grown into an ideal destination race for people across Canada.

Full results for the event can be found here.

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Here's me running to the finish line (I ran fast at this point because I saw food)

A photo posted by Rachel (@rachel_kidd) on

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Got photos from the event that you want shared? Email them to tim@runningmagazine.ca

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