On your mark: 45th Rattler Run gets underway April 27

By JAMES TUBB on April 18, 2024.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Hatters can re-lace their running shoes and pull their brightest running gear out of the closet, the annual Rattler Run is around the corner.

The Medicine Hat College’s 45th annual Rattler Run gets underway April 27 for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities looking to stretch their legs in the largest organized race in the city.

Race director and Rattlers cross-country coach Bill Corcoran says they’re excited for the 45th race and will hold any anniversary celebrations for the 50th run.

“It’s the sort of No. 1 running event every year in Medicine Hat here, so it’s just an honour and a privilege to be the race director of such event with such a long history,” Corcoran said. “It’s probably in the top-three oldest continuously run running events in Alberta right now, I can only think of two others that are older. So it’s an interesting thing that Medicine Hat would have one of the longest running events.”

The race will feature the same lengths, with 3 km, 5 km and 10 km races. Corcoran says they’ve made some changes to the course that starts and finishes at the main campus.

“It’s certainly not a fast course for the 5k or the 10k because you’ve got some considerable hills to run up, but 3k is nice and flat around the college and should be a good day,” Corcoran said. “It’s always a challenging run for the people to tackle the 5 or 10k, but that’s part of the attraction of the of the event.”

There were 507 racers in the 2023 Rattler Run, a number Corcoran expects to rise with this year’s race. Interested runners can register at rattlerrun.ca by Thursday, April 25.

This year’s event will feature a mascot race for the first time, with three mascots committed so far and others potentially joining in the fun. The college’s mascot Rowdy will be joined by Tourism Sun from Medicine Hat Tourism, and Daniel’s Dill Dip Pickle will all be racing for mascot honours.

The mascot race will get started at 10 a.m., ahead of the 10 km run’s start at 10:30 a.m. The 5 km race starts at 10:40 and the 3 km run gets underway at 10:50. The award ceremonies will take place roughly 20-30 minutes after the final finisher of each race.

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