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Marathon runners off to the market

Marathon runners have more incentive than ever to reach the finish line in a race to Millarville’s racetrack on Saturday.
SA Millarville Half Marathon
Kerry Statham takes a triumphant chomp out of his cinnamon bun at the Millarville “Run To The Farmers’ Market” Half Marathon in 2017. This year’s event runs June 16.

Marathon runners have more incentive than ever to reach the finish line in a race to Millarville’s racetrack on Saturday. Hundreds of participants in the Millarville Run to the Farmers’ Market Half Marathon will finish at the racetrack for the season opening of Alberta’s largest outdoor market, featuring 186 booths of locally-grown and made food, crafts and art, on June 16. “It’s a great way to finish the marathon — going to check out the market,” said market manager Melonie McKee. “The atmosphere is something that people really cherish just getting to know the makers, growers and bakers.” The half-marathon starts at 7 a.m. for walkers and 7:30 a.m. for runners at the Oilfields Regional Arena in Black Diamond with a 21.1km half-marathon, two-person half-marathon relay and 12.8km COBS Cinnamon Bun Run, which begins at 8:05 a.m. Race director Rick Charlton said the event not only attracts triathletes, but also every-day people. Past years have seen an eight-month pregnant woman run the event and an elderly man who held his wife’s hand during the run as she was legally blind. A shorter 3K family run along the edge of the Millarville Racetrack grounds was added this year to make the event accessible to more people. “We wanted a shorter distance,” said Charlton. “It’s more geared towards the kids and families.” A popular element of the race is the Cinnamon Bun Run. Approximately 1,600 cinnamon buns are delivered to stations along the route from COBS Bread bakeries across the Foothills and Calgary for participants to enjoy while making their way to the finish line. A bonus cash prize is awarded to top male and female “bunners” who beat the times of the top male and female runners. “Triathletes do well on the bunner side because they’re used to shoveling food down and taking off,” Charlton said. The Millarville Mustangs 4-H Club and Millarville Tilt and Lance Cavalry members will be in attendance to encourage and cheer on participants. Charlton invites the public to do the same as runners make their way through the Turner Valley Golf Club and along the Friendship Trail connecting Turner Valley and Black Diamond before they head north on Racetrack Road. Following the race, participants can check out the Millarville Farmers’ Market’s array of food, arts, crafts, live music and children’s activities including a petting zoo, face painting and balloon artist in its 37th year. McKee said more than 90 per cent of market vendors are selling goods that were made, baked or grown in southern Alberta. Seventy-five per cent of last year’s vendors are returning and the market is bringing 16 additional vendors over last year with goods that range from hand-painted skulls to handcrafted knives. McKee said the market brings thousands of people from across western Canada due to its old-fashioned country setting. “I just love getting to know the vendors and their eclectic personalities and seeing people and families come week after week and watching them build relationships with vendors,” she said. “It’s a different shopping atmosphere, a country atmosphere, that’s for sure.” New to the market this year is a dog daycare and the Market Buds program. The latter encourages children to engage in conversations with farmers, learn how food is grown and participate in cooking activities. A station will be set up with a climbing pyramid, roping and a stationary bike hooked up to a makeshift grain mill. Youngsters earn Market Bud tokens to use towards purchasing produce in the market. The cost to attend the Millarville Farmers’ Market is $3 per car. The market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 6. Funds raised from the half-marathon events will go towards replacing the riding arena that collapsed on the site last spring. For race details go to www.millarvillehalfmarathon.com  

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