Banff to hold inaugural marathon, again

Canada’s oldest national park, Banff, is set to try and get their marathon off the ground again in 2014.

The Banff marathon was expected to be run for the first time last summer but it was cancelled due to massive flooding along the Bow River, which displaced over 100,000 Albertans.

The new date set for the event is June 22, 2014 and registration will open on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 with early bird rates lasting until the end of January, 2014. With the race set for a Sunday, it allows visitors to experience some of the other attractions available in the town.

“The New York marathon came back from super-storm Sandy this year, the Boston marathon will come back strong from the horrific events of 2013, and soon, the Banff Marathon will also make its comeback from the extreme flooding which devastated southern Alberta,” said marathon director Paul Regensburg, “This will be a very special race with the route weaving through mountain valleys on closed roads. It will be worth the wait.”

The course will be a scenic one through one of Canada’s iconic national parks. The planned route will follow the Bow Valley Parkway, the Legacy trail, and finish in downtown Banff, Alt. The route is expected to show off the beauty and wildlife in the park.

Banff national park is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and, because the area is protected, the race will be limited to 1,500 entrants. It will be the only marathon in North America contested completely inside a national park.