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Woody's RV Marathon runs on volunteers (video)

It goes without saying that to stage an event with more than 1,500 participants sometimes scattered over nearly 40 km of roads and trails takes a marathon of effort from volunteers and sponsors.
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It goes without saying that to stage an event with more than 1,500 participants sometimes scattered over nearly 40 km of roads and trails takes a marathon of effort from volunteers and sponsors.

The highly successful Woody’s RV World Marathon and Half Marathon, which now includes a 10-km race, depends on more than 300 volunteers and scores of sponsors to make it work.

Perfect distance running conditions greeted the runners at the start of the 13th annual Woody’s event Sunday morning.

Temperatures of around 10 degrees, coupled with partially overcast skies at the start, which by mid morning had warmed to about 18 degrees were much to the runner’s liking.

However, a few hours before the runners showed up at the start line near Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School and Ecole Camille J. Lerouge School, Debbie Dyrland, Charlene Thomas and other volunteers were on the scene helping set up tents and booths to service the hundreds of runners after they finished their races.

Dyrland and Thomas were setting up the information booth to direct runners and help them find the right sized souvenir race T-shirt.

Meanwhile, Wendy Prediger of Sylvan Lake, was in an ideal location at the north end of the old former CPR foot bridge directing runners to head south.

Prediger, who has also run the race, was taking a break this year but decided to help out.

Located in a key spot Prediger had both the 38-km marathon marker and the 17-km half marathon point to direct runners converging from east and west directions to head south.

“The leader in the marathon just went by and he looked pretty strong,” quipped Prediger.

The job isn’t lonely and she acts as sort of a cheerleader for the runners encouraging them.

“I know what it’s like to reach these points in the race and you sometimes need words or a friendly smile to keep you going,” said Prediger who runs full and half marathons.

Some people in the half marathon had slowed to a walk but Prediger praised their efforts nonetheless.

“Just competing is an accomplishment. It’s a great day for running and enjoying the park,” she added.

Thomas, in her third year as a volunteer, said she enjoys meeting people.

She also helps with pre-race package pickups and arrives about 6:30 a.m. on race day for extra pickups.

Dyrland said she has volunteered since 2004 and also sits on the race committee.

It’s an honour to help serve as a volunteer, Dyrland said.

A former runner and organizer of other races Thomas said she knows the value of volunteers.

“They are real keys to a race and if I can help out I will,” she said.

Another key aspect of the race is the presence of emergency first aid emergency services personnel from the City of Red Deer.

Red Deer firemedics were most welcome when a 41-year-old male runner collapsed at the bottom of the Michener Centre hill at the intersection of 58th Street.

The firemedics rushed him to their tent and he was checked out with some possible heart irregularities, Andy Farmer, acting platoon chief said.

The man was then taken to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre for assessment.

Farmer said it’s important to constantly check the runners and people in the crowd for any signs of stress.

A hit this year was the addition of the 10-km race.

The race attracted about 270 entrants including first time racers Katherine Slipp, 20, of Red Deer and Kody Pritchard, also 20 from Rocky Mountain House.

Slipp’s initial race was a bit of an eye-opener.

“I thought I was going to puke after those first two big hills,” she said.

“But I kept going and when those older ladies started passing me I thought I can’t let a mom and three kids beat me,” she laughed

“I gave it my all down the last bit and sprinted to the finish,” she said while finished in 63 minutes.

“It was a real pretty course especially with the river,” Slipp said.

Pritchard ran with his friend for the initial start but pulled away at about three km to finish in about 52 minutes.

“I’ve never run before but played some high school sports like volleyball and basketball,” Pritchard said.

About 60 per cent of total event participants were from Central Alberta, which was an increase of 20 per cent compared with 2010.

About 95 per cent were from Alberta. They were joined by runners from across Canada, Americans from North Dakota, Texas and Oregon, plus one from Wexford, Ireland.

jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com