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By Bruce Campbell
Sports Editor
It will be the long-distance thoroughbreds who will be the first runners arriving in High River for the sixth annual Friendship Run, but the biggest ovation will likely go to more of a workhorse.
Phil Porth, who will turn 60 next month, plans to run his fifth Friendship Run on April 5, this year going from Okotoks to High River, and he admits he may once again be the last person to finish the entire distance of approximately 24 kilometres.
“I am a slow, methodical runner,” Porth said. “I run five kilometres maybe four times a week to get me ready for hiking, but I’m not a runner…. I do this as a personal thing — it’s my goal to finish. So when they come out and cheer me on at the end, it feels good.”
Porth, who lives in High River, said he’s got nothing against Okotoks, but he much prefers running home, rather than running north.
“Going from High River to Okotoks is a lot harder,” Porth said. “The hill to Crystal Ridge (Centre St. to Milligan Drive, then to the Beach House) is a killer at the very end.”
He added that the north to northwest winds should mean the participants have the wind at their backs.
Regardless, Porth is a big fan of the run.
“I think it’s great to bring people from High River and Okotoks together,” Porth said. “Usually I run alone, but for this run, I always have someone to talk to and to help me along.”
Getting runners together to share laughs and some exercise is why the Friendship Run was started in 2003, according to Norm Brennand of the Big Rock Runners.
He stressed it’s for all runners. If runners would like to be on a relay team, that’s fine. As well, if they just want to run a part of the course, nobody is keeping track of time.
This year, there will be at least three support vehicles to assist runners who need a ride to the finish if they are not running the whole route.
As well, volunteers on bicycles will be on the route to escort the runners.
The run will start at the Okotoks Recreation Centre at 9 a.m. Runners are asked to be at the centre at 8:45 a.m. in order to register and receive instructions. The route goes through Okotoks before entering Highway 7 at the Burnco Road. Runners will run south on the east side of the highway facing traffic and a water station will be set up at Aldersyde.
Runners will run into High River and cross Centre Street at the traffic light at Sobeys. They will then proceed along the Highwood River to the entrance of George Lane Park.
A reception with refreshments will be held at Gitter’s Pub, just a block from the finish line.
Brennand added safety is paramount and Alberta Transportation and the RCMP are aware of the run. The run will be cancelled if safety is compromised due to poor visibility.
Participants are asked to park in High River at the public parking lot on Macleod Trail, behind the former J. Ross Building, so as not to interfere with businesses in the community.
There is no fee for the Friendship Run, which is being sponsored by the Big Rock Runners.
Interested participants from Okotoks can call Brennand at 660-1976 or in High River, Bruce Campbell at 652-7644. |
