The Calgary Marathon 50K ultra adds a special prize

Celebrating its 50th race in 2014, the Calgary Marathon decided to do something special.

The Calgary Marathon Society, which organizes the event, has added at special, one-time 50K road ultra to celebrate being the oldest marathon in the country.

“They have been talking about doing this the last three years … and probably started planning about 18 months ago.Kirsten-Ellen Fleming, the executive director of the society, told the Calgary Sun. “We were really excited to launch the 50k but, at the same time, a little apprehensive … a marathon is hard enough.”

When registration opened, the organizers limited the ultra to just 350 spots, but when it sold out in less than three months, the society decided to grow the event to an even 500 runners and opened by 150 entries. As of early January, only a few spots remain.

The 50K course will officially be announced on Jan. 15, but Fleming suggests that ultra runners will still get to experience the marathon course, with “a little bit of an extra loop.”

There’s good new for those seeking to run a Boston qualifier that want to do the special race. Organizers say that the 50K will accommodate marathon qualification timing within the ultra. All runners of the ultra must also be able to prove that they have completed a marathon in under 4:30 in the last year and a half.

A local beer company, the Wild Rose Brewery, has signed on as the sponsor of the 50K. Every ultra finisher will receive a commemorative beer glass. The winners will also receive a special prize: their weight in beer.