Runners take on half-marathon

By Mo Cranker on October 15, 2018.

NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Runners take off during this year's Conquer the Ridge half marathon starting at Echo Dale Park on Oct. 13, 2018. The race is the only half marathon in Medicine Hat and had more than 200 runners taking part this year.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

Medicine Hatters were out in the cold Saturday morning for the city’s annual half-marathon.

The Conquer the Ridge race starts at Echo Dale Regional Park and offers runners five, 10 and 21.1-kilometre courses — the longest of which has participants running around the Clarion Hotel and back to Echo Dale.

“It’s going to be a great run this year,” said race director Chris Humphries. “This is Medicine Hat’s only half-marathon and we have a couple other courses as well for people who may not be able to, or want to run a half-marathon.

“There’s a couple hundred people out here this morning and we’ve also got some snow — it’ll be an interesting run.”

Humphries says the event offers something unique for they city’s runners.

“We just like running — a lot,” he said. “There’s a really strong running community in Medicine Hat and this is a great way of showing support for that community here in the city.”

Humphries says a good time for a half-marathon is around 90 minutes — especially on this specific run.

“It’s a very hilly course,” he said. “There’s about 170 metres of elevation in this course, so it’s a really tough one.”

Red Rock Union offers three big events during the year, one at Kin Coulee, one in Elkwater and the race at Echo Dale.

“They’re all unique in their own way,” said Humphries. “This one here is just a run — no obstacles or anything like that.

“People here are very supportive and are just out to have a good time.”