The inaugural ‘Run to Remember’ is in Lethbridge this weekend.
The event is set for Sunday, September 29 at Mountain View Cemetery.
Parks Community Coordinator Ashley Walker says the goal is celebrate loved ones who are no longer with us and promote community health.
“We’re trying to find new ways to encourage the community to visit cemeteries for reasons other than funerals and visiting loved ones,” Walker says.
“Cemeteries aren’t typically what one would think of as a space to recreate, but we are trying to change that perspective.”
The event will feature 2.5 and five-kilometre options. Participants can choose to walk or run the course. The route will go past historic headstones, with the five-kilometre option being a double-loop of the cemetery.
“The Mountain View Cemetery boasts wide, clear pathways [that] provide a safe space for running, walking and even cycling,” Walker notes, adding the race route is along the outside pathway within the cemetery.
She says the decision to hold the event at Mountain View “was not done lightly”, remarking that careful consideration was made to maintain the sanctity of the space and be mindful of respecting the area.
Walker says prior to the run starting, there will be a moment of silence “to honour those laid to rest here so everyone can be in the frame of mind of remembering those [who] they’re running for”. The event will also feature a memory board where participants can write down the name of the loved one they are running or walking for.
“The run itself will remain on the pathway so we will have volunteers along the route to make sure that participants are staying on the pathway and being respectiful of the space,” she adds.
There will also be awards handed out for first and second place in each age category at the family-friendly event.
“I think what’s really cool about this event is that we are probably going to see participants who are here to honour loved ones, and they are really going to be here to intentionally be considerate in memory of those they’re running for, and we’ll also have the avid runners who are looking to get their personal best for their five [kilometre time], so I think we’ll have a really diverse group of people in one space,” Walker states.
The race will use staggered start times, with the five-kilometre route starting at 10 a.m., and the 2.5 kilometre path at 10:05 a.m. Race packages will be available at the starting line between 8:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
“At the end of the day, we hope that they will think of the cemeteries as an extension of our park space, which is what [they are] and can be utilized for a variety of different ways,” Walker says.
“We’re hoping to bring life into the cemetery, when it’s often associated with death, so we’re really excited that the community has been really great at registering and is on board for this really meaningful [and] impactful event.”
Registration for the inaugural ‘Run to Remember’ can be done online and anyone interested in volunteering can email [email protected]. Registration closes on Saturday, September 28.
Strollers are allowed along the route, but dogs are not allowed in the cemetery. The City adds that if you plan to visit the cemetery on race day, be mindful or race participants or plan your visit for the afternoon once the race is finished.
