Edit: This event has been cancelled by Rupert Runners. Refunds are being given out and please contact organizers for questions.
It will be 12 years now that kids and adults alike have taken off down the hill from the North Pacific Cannery along Skeena Drive, then turned around and made it right back for some barbecue salmon and burgers.
This Saturday, the 12th annual Cannery Road Race will officially bring an end to the Rupert Runners’ 2015 season and organizers are hoping the event goes off without a hitch.
Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 12 from approximately 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Cannery Road Race is one of the more scenic area races that Rupert Runners hosts in the region, as participants will be able to take in the natural beauty of not only the cannery itself, but the forested road that leads to it.
“We’re hoping [for nice weather], but it’s Prince Rupert. It’s different every five minutes,” said race organizer Rosa Watson last week.
The Cannery Road Race features numerous different categories that participants can sign up for, including a five and 10 km walk, five and 10 km runs, a kids’ one km fun run and finally, a half-marathon for the spirited and ambitious.
The 10 km walk and half-marathon racers will leave the cannery at 11 a.m., followed shortly by the kids’ fun run at 11:30 a.m. and then the last of the participants will take off at noon for the five and 10 km runs and the five km walk.
For the sweaty and hungry, there will be a salmon and burger barbecue scheduled for 1 p.m. after the races have completed, with prizes to follow at approximately 2 p.m.
Non-participants can pay a small fee to join in on the lunch.
Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help out with various duties and traffic and parking will be controlled to enable runner safety.
“We’re going to have some people out in the parking lot, trying to direct traffic to park further down the road in either direction, because the [B.C. Transit] bus still has to get through and emergency personnel vehicles need to be able to get through,” said Watson.
Runners are also being told not to wear any personal listening devices of any kind.
The day’s prizes have been donated by corporate sponsors and Aero Trading is providing the salmon to be consumed.
Those wishing to register can download the race form at www.rupertrunners.com or register on Friday, Sept. 11 at Cowpuccino’s from 7 – 9 p.m. or the day of the race from 10 - 10:30 a.m.
While the guaranteed participant shirt deadline has come and gone, Watson says to get your forms in early for a chance to grab one.
For more information, visit the website listed above or call Watson at 250-600-0923 or fellow organizer Karen at 250-600-4823.