Speed River Road Mile and Inferno offer community runs and elite races

The Speed River Inferno is fast becoming a premiere track and field event in Ontario for elite athletes, but this year the Guelph, Ont. club is offering an evening of more family-oriented runs in advance of Saturday’s evening blaze.

For the 2014 Speed River Inferno, the club has added their new Downtown Road Mile on Friday, May 30, the night before the elite races. The one-mile road race will start and finish at City Hall after two 800m loops of the city’s downtown core.

“We love the idea of opening up the Speed River Inferno athlete experience to athletes of all ages and abilities,” said race director Chris Moulton in a press release. “Downtown Guelph is a beautiful area and the chance to put on an evening race there and help grow the Inferno Track and Field Festival is something that we are very excited to do.”

After the road mile there will be a 100m race for kids.

On Saturday evening, May 31, the club will host the main attraction of the Inferno. Elite athletes from across Canada, along with world championship and Olympic athletes from outside of Canada, will compete in a 90-minute, European-style high performance meet. Many of the Canadians will be looking for a last chance to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

Pre-meet sections start at 5:30 p.m. EDT and the main program begins at 7 p.m.

Canadian Running will be hosting a live stream of the event and a live chat. Check back on Saturday to tune in.