The
Sinister 7 Ultra Marathon has quickly become one of the community's big summer events –– and it's only getting bigger, as the event's organizers told council at their Tuesday, March 2 meeting.
Brian Gallant and Andrew Fairhurst of the locally owned
Full Moon Adventure Company spoke before council about the event's growth, about what help they hope to receive this year, and about factors in the community that may limit their growth in the future. The race this year will take place July 10 and 11.
The Sinister 7 is a 146 km foot race through challenging terrain both north and south of the community. People compete as individuals or as teams of up to seven, with many people running all through the day and into the night in an extreme challenge of physical endurance.
"It's been very successful," said Gallant. "We're proud to be bringing people down here."
He told council that in their first year, in 2008, they had 160 runners. Last year, the event's second year, they attracted 350 people, more than doubling the attendance.
This year, said Gallant, they set a 500-entry limit to attempt to control their growth. They have already allowed that limit to be bent, and have capped the 2010 race at 650 registered runners, with a further 120 people on a waiting list, hoping to get in if anyone else drops out.
Fairhurst added that next year they expect to get at least 1000 runners.
Gallant said that word about the race is spreading throughout North America, attracting an ever wider range of people. The Sinister 7 recently won a reader's choice award from Get Out There magazine, as the best running event in western Canada.
Fairhurst told council that they have heard from business owners that the Sinister 7 weekend is one of their busiest of the year. He said that accommodation facilities were filled to capacity last year, with people spilling over into neighbouring communities.
