Latest news with #CalgaryMarathon
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Record-breaking 17,250 runners lace up for Calgary Marathon
A record number of participants laced up their sneakers, pinned on race bibs and sped through the city during the Calgary Marathon weekend. Approximately 17,250 runners hit the streets for the races — about 17 per cent more than the previous record of 14,750 from 2014. "The energy from the city and the number of participants, I've never seen anything like it," said Kirsten Fleming, executive director of the Calgary Marathon Society. "People are seemingly embracing running and all that comes with it more than I've ever seen in my 12 years of doing this." This year's event also marked the first time races were held over two days, with 5K and 10K races held on Saturday. The full 42.2-kilometre marathon and 21.1-kilometre half marathon followed on Sunday. Kids' races took place on both days. Fleming also said turnout from supporters reached an "unprecedented" high, with fans lined up "five deep" on some parts of the course to cheer on passing runners. Kip Kangogo from Lethbridge ran the fastest time in the men's full marathon, clocking in a chip time of 2:28:42. In the women's event, Kelly Challinor from Kelowna placed first with a chip time of 2:52:05. Jessica Van Schothorst, a runner and right leg amputee, missed the time goal she set for herself in the half marathon, but still managed a personal best. "I was put in the position where I couldn't run for many years," she said. "To be able to step foot on the 21-kilometre [finish line] this morning was incredible. I cried probably a good percentage of that race." "Even despite all the complications that I do face over the years, I get to do this." Approximately 3,200 first-time full and half marathon runners signed up to race on Sunday. Kristen Harder ran the Calgary Marathon's 21.1-kilometre race for the second time. "I can tell there were a lot more runners this year, which was awesome. It was always good energy, love the music and everybody shows out to cheer you on," she said. Harder said she finished the half marathon with a chip time of 2:20:48. "Probably gonna go lay on the couch and watch TV all day," she said when asked how she would celebrate. Some road closures and parking bans were in effect Sunday to accommodate the races, including on Memorial Drive N.W. between 10th Street N.W. and Kensington Road N.W. More runners will hit the streets and trails in the coming weeks. The Calgary Marathon has also organized a virtual race, where runners can take on any distance, anywhere at any time over the next 30 days to raise money for the participant's charity of choice. The virtual race window runs from May 26 to June 22.
CBC
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Record-breaking 17,250 runners lace up for Calgary Marathon
Social Sharing A record number of participants laced up their sneakers, pinned on race bibs and sped through the city during the Calgary Marathon weekend. Approximately 17,250 runners hit the streets for the races — about 17 per cent more than the previous record of 14,750 from 2014. "The energy from the city and the number of participants, I've never seen anything like it," said Kirsten Fleming, executive director of the Calgary Marathon Society. "People are seemingly embracing running and all that comes with it more than I've ever seen in my 12 years of doing this." This year's event also marked the first time races were held over two days, with 5K and 10K races held on Saturday. The full 42.2-kilometre marathon and 21.1-kilometre half marathon followed on Sunday. Kids' races took place on both days. Fleming also said turnout from supporters reached an "unprecedented" high, with fans lined up "five deep" on some parts of the course to cheer on passing runners. Kip Kangogo from Lethbridge ran the fastest time in the men's full marathon, clocking in a chip time of 2:28:42. In the women's event, Kelly Challinor from Kelowna placed first with a chip time of 2:52:05. Jessica Van Schothorst, a runner and right leg amputee, missed the time goal she set for herself in the half marathon, but still managed a personal best. "I was put in the position where I couldn't run for many years," she said. "To be able to step foot on the 21-kilometre [finish line] this morning was incredible. I cried probably a good percentage of that race." "Even despite all the complications that I do face over the years, I get to do this." Approximately 3,200 first-time full and half marathon runners signed up to race on Sunday. Kristen Harder ran the Calgary Marathon's 21.1-kilometre race for the second time. "I can tell there were a lot more runners this year, which was awesome. It was always good energy, love the music and everybody shows out to cheer you on," she said. Harder said she finished the half marathon with a chip time of 2:20:48. "Probably gonna go lay on the couch and watch TV all day," she said when asked how she would celebrate. Some road closures and parking bans were in effect Sunday to accommodate the races, including on Memorial Drive N.W. between 10th Street N.W. and Kensington Road N.W. More runners will hit the streets and trails in the coming weeks. The Calgary Marathon has also organized a virtual race, where runners can take on any distance, anywhere at any time over the next 30 days to raise money for the participant's charity of choice. The virtual race window runs from May 26 to June 22.
Global News
25-05-2025
- Health
- Global News
Stepping up for hope: Alberta man walks 10 km just 7 months after regaining ability to walk
As a young boy, Rylan Laplante was always active, playing baseball or going out to the mountains with his family to hit the slopes. But at 11 years old, tragedy struck. Due to a rare genetic condition, Laplante lost his mobility. 'Over the course of about six months, I lost the ability to walk, lost the ability to use my hands, and ultimately lost the ability to talk as well,' Laplante said. Laplante told Global News the circumstances took him to his lowest point, but thanks to what he calls 'delusional optimism,' he continued to fight to find a way to regain the ability to walk. Laplante spent more than 1,000 days at the Vi Riddel Children's Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. He was told he'd never walk again 23 times by health-care experts. But after travelling to Houston for an experimental treatment, the road to recovery was paved before him. Story continues below advertisement 'What always impressed me, and still does to this day, is his determination,' said Dr. David Manning with the Group23 Sports Medicine Clinic. 'Being able to say, 'No, I know that my statistical chance is low, but I'm not willing to stop until I've tried every possible thing and be shown I can't do it!'' Manning became Laplante's doctor after he aged out of Children's Hospital. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'So many people said he would never walk again, it would never be possible,' said Al Laplante, Rylan's father. 'He's such a determined man, and to see him do this today is just unbelievable.' Laplante took his first step on Halloween of last year, and in the months since, he set his sights on the 10-kilometre event during the Calgary Marathon. 'I've put about six to seven months' worth of hard work,' Laplante said. 'A lot of people got me here.' Laplante wasn't breaking speed records, but he was raising funds. As of Saturday morning, he had raised more than four times his original goal. 'When I started this morning, we crossed $46,000,' Laplante said. 'The goal we set out initially was at $10,000. Ten kilometres for $10,000.' Walking with more than 20 friends and family, Laplante finished the race in under two-and-a-half hours, and as he crossed the finish line, he already had his mind fixed on his next goal. Story continues below advertisement 'The end of one finish line is the beginning of the next starting line,' Laplante chuckled. 'The Calgary Stampede is just around the corner … so I want to two-step.' Laplante said he'll be donating the funds to the Vi Riddell Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic in the coming weeks.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Lethbridge runner Kip Kangogo wins Servus Calgary Marathon
Around 17,000 people participated in a variety of races this weekend at the Calgary Marathon. Lethbridge's Kip Kangogo won the men's 2025 Servus Calgary Marathon Sunday. Kangogo, 45, ran the 42. 2 kilometre race in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 42 seconds. Kelly Challinor of Kelowna won the women's race, completing the race in 2 hours, 52 minutes and five seconds. After the race, Kangogo, who grew up in Kenya before moving to Lethbridge in 2001, was all smiles. 'Servus Calgary Marathon has been a good friend,' he said. 'I came with my family, and it was nice to come and win in front of my kids -- and the community is going the extra mile to make people active and fit.' Kip Kangogo Lethbridge resident Kip Kangogo won the Calgary Marathon for the third time Sunday. (Tyler Barrow, CTV News) It was Kangogo's third time winning in Calgary. He previously won the 50th anniversary race, in 2014, with a record time of 2:19:47. He also won in 2022, with a time of 2:32:54 and he won the 2017 half-marathon as well. As for what was going through his mind as he ran through the streets of Calgary, where around 17,000 people competed in a variety of road races this weekend? 'I was kind of observing all the energy from everyone else and just run with everyone else,' he said. 'It's a friendship, it's a way of life -- and it's just the city comes alive during the Calgary Marathon race weekend.' For Challinor, it was her first Calgary Marathon victory -- and the end was exactly what it is for almost every marathon runner. Kelly Challinor Kelly Challinor of Kelowna won the women's Calgary Marathon (Tyler Barrow, CTV News) 'I had no idea whether anyone was behind me the whole way, so I thought I was being chased down,' she said. 'It felt really good to cross the finish line, and the crowds were great. 'The last stretch was amazing, because I was pretty dead out there.' With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
Calgary Herald
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
'The city comes alive': Calgary Marathon sets record turnout — plus, the complete list of winners
Thousands of people ran, walked and wheeled through Calgary's streets on Sunday for the second day of the Servus Calgary Marathon — the biggest in the event's history, according to organizers. Article content Article content Crowds lined the race route with signs and cheers, while a large gathering near the finish line near Enmax Park welcomed a steady stream of participants completing full and half marathons. Article content Article content This year's event drew 17,250 participants and attracted about 50,000 people overall, including spectators and volunteers. The event also helped raise roughly $800,000 for charities, according to organizers. Article content 'This is a level of support that we've never really seen before,' she added. 'It just feels like the city of Calgary absolutely embraced this tradition after 61 years.' Article content Article content An estimated 17,300 participants registered for the races taking place across two days — a 23 per cent increase from last year, Fleming said. Saturday featured a 10-kilometre race, a 5K and a 1.2-kilometre kids run, while Sunday was dedicated to the marathon and half marathon. Article content Article content Races began at the BMO Centre and took runners through downtown, Inglewood, Bridgeland and near TELUS Spark, culminating with a fun, community atmosphere at Enmax Park, complete with food trucks, live music and family activities. Article content Among Sunday's top finishers was Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, who won the men's marathon with a time of 2:28:42. It marks his third Calgary Marathon win, he said. Article content 'It feels really good,' Kangogo said at the finish line. 'I came with my family and it was nice to win in front of my kids. Article content 'The city comes alive during the Calgary Marathon this weekend,' he added, calling the Calgary Marathon a 'community event' that brings people together.
