Scotiabank Calgary Marathon Reveals Groovy Plans for 50th Celebration

CALGARY, Sept. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - Celebrate 50 years of running with 15,000 running buddies as you "run through the decades" on June 1, 2014 at the 50^th Anniversary celebration of the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon. Experience the sights and sounds of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and beyond as you walk and run from the early years to present day in five distinct legs of the 2014 marathon course. Dress up in vintage costumes from your favourite decade for a chance to win one of five grand prizes that could have you running in a marathon anywhere in the country. A panel of judges will be ready to crown five participants the "best dressed of their decade" in the courtyard following the races.

Ultra-marathon man, Dean Karnazes, ran 50 ultra-marathons in 50 days in 50 states; surely you are up for just one 50K. Dean Karnazes will be the Race Weekend keynote speaker and will lead the charge on the exclusive one-time only 50K ultra-marathon. Registration for the 50K opens at noon MST on Wednesday September 18. Finishers will receive a custom finishers' beer stein as well as a marathon belt buckle medal. The 50K race is limited to 300 runners and runners must meet criteria* to register.

Whether you are running 5K or 42.2K, runners will want to train hard and run a personal best (P.B.) at this race! Go on and bang the giant golden gong when you P.B. at the Golden Anniversary of the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon. A custom Calgary Marathon Society golden gong awaits returning runners who earn the right to have a go at the gong!

Beyond reaching your P.B., all runners will have the opportunity to run for the sake of others by taking part in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. In 2013, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge raised $1 million, 27 thousand for 76 charities and aims to break another fundraising record in 2014.

Scotiabank will also increase the prize money for top fundraising charities to $25,000 in 2014. Prizes of $4,000 for 1st place and $2,000 for 2nd place and $1,500 for third place will be awarded to the leading charities in each of three categories - the charity with the most runners; with the largest amount of pledges raised; and with the most pledges raised per runner. The prize money for the charity of the highest individual fundraising runner will be increased to $2,500.

Following the race, some of the city's finest food trucks will be offering up a number of delicious delectables. Food trucks will be serving up delicious post-race meals for participants and spectators and a beer garden for grown ups will be set up in the courtyard on the opposite side from the kids' area, which is complete with bouncy castle and kids' entertainers.

Calgary Marathon Society wants you to remember being a part of such a special celebration. Cool commemorative gear and retro accessories will soon be available for sale on www.calgarymarathon.com and at CMS events, including Race Weekend. A limited number of retro jersey cotton tee's, hoodies, running jackets, fanny packs, to-go mugs, compression socks and much more will be available by Christmas.

*50K criteria: runners must have completed one marathon under 4.5 hours in the last 18 months. Runners must be able to complete the ultra marathon in less than 6.5 hours. Runners who aren't at the 50K turnaround by the cut off time will be asked to join the marathoners and be stripped of their ultra bib. All 50k runners must attend an ultra briefing the day before the race at Package Pick-Up.

SOURCE: Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations; Scotiabank

Kirsten-Ellen Fleming
Executive Director
Calgary Marathon Society
587 899 2287
[email protected]

Diana Hart
Scotiabank Media Communications
416 866 7238
[email protected]