Record-high attendance for Servus Edmonton Marathon

The Servus Edmonton Marathon saw a record-high number of runners lacing up across five events Sunday — more than 8,200 for its 34th year.

Some participants returned for another race. For others, it was their first time, including 86-year-old Larry Adams joining his longtime friend and previous marathon runner Debra Kasowski. They ran the five-kilometre family walk and run with Kasowski pushing Adams’ wheelchair. 

Before the race, Adam said it was the chance to be outdoors and to experience the event with the community that made him want to join his friend.

“She told me as long as she was pushing (my wheelchair), I’d always be ahead of her. So I said that sounds good to me,” Adams said. “A lot of people are afraid to try because they get put in a box that you’re not allowed to do this, you’re not allowed to do that. And me, I’ll try anything once.”

Kasowski was sharing her experience running two previous marathons with Adams when she thought he, perhaps, might want to join her.

“I said one of these days I want to push you across the finish line so you can have that experience and get a medal,” Kasowksi said. “My son looks at me and says, ‘What are you waiting for?’ And it just reminded me that someday isn’t on the calendar, but Sunday was on the calendar. So we went.”

This summer, there are five distances: full marathon, half marathon, 10-kilometre, five-kilometre, and the one-kilometre for kids.

Brian Torrance, who is responsible for growth and marketing the event, said overall attendance has gone up thirty per cent each of the last two years.

“There’s a global popularity around physical activity and running, which is awesome to see, and next year, absolutely the goal is to surpass ten thousand people,” he said.

Runners celebrated as they passed the finish line at the half-marathon Sunday morning, surrounded by an energetic crowd of onlookers.

Participants in the half-marathon who spoke to CityNews said they weren’t focused on their rankings, but rather on their personal performance goals, feeling a sense of accomplishment, and being part of the community.

“I had a time that I wanted to beat, and my goal was to get to that, and it felt pretty accomplished to know the work I put in the last couple of months paid off,” said Huzaifa.

 “It’s my own fight. But I came to race with my buddy because good excuse for him to come out, and the winning is just my own self-battle, so that’s all that matters,” said Patrick Gauthier.

It’s the support from the crowd and the feeling of passing the finish line that keeps others going.

“Amazing! Amazing. It gets you through,” said Jessica Mitton.

“One hundred per cent it gets you through,” said David Mitton. “On every corner, to get a high five from people that know you and people who don’t. It says your name on your tag, they’re cheering for you.”

The marathon raised over $77,000 this year for local charities.