ELK POINT – Elk Point’s Iron Horse Trail staging area will be filled to the brim even more than usual on Saturday, Oct 5, with the Elk Point Economic Development Committee’s Elk Point Ultra 60k run added to the annual Iron Horse Ultra 100 for the first time ever.
The new 60 k version, aimed at runners who want to try out a marathon but who aren’t sure if they are up to completing a 100-mile or 100-kilometer race, will head west from the starting point near the Eco Centre at 12:00 noon, turning south at Road 71 to head down the hill, cross Atimoswe Creek and climb the hill to come out at the golf course before heading east, then south to go under the Highway 41 bridge, then east on a course that will lead runners to the first checkpoint at Fort George and Buckingham House historic site.
The next leg takes runners east and south to the former Windsor Salt plant, then onto the Iron Horse Trail to the next checkpoint at the Lindbergh staging area. The third and final leg follows the Iron Horse Trail all the way back to Elk Point and the finish line.
The 60k run lacks many of the challenging areas faced on the 100-mile and 100-km versions, but still offers the breathtaking scenery and an opportunity to see new vistas that are not reached by any roads.
Back in Elk Point, the EDC is gathering information on local restaurants, stores and events for those awaiting the runners’ return, such as coupons offering a free book to those who stop in the book sale at the Elk Point Municipal Library that afternoon.
What time will the first runner cross the finish line? We will just have to wait until late Saturday afternoon to find out!
