From the Desk of Kirsten Fleming: Run Calgary is Growing Up

Running is having a moment. And I am LOVING it.

If you’re new to Run Calgary, welcome! And if you’re a longstanding member of the community, hello again!

It has been an absolutely electric year for Run Calgary (and for me personally tbh)! We celebrated 60 years running (the Calgary Marathon is the oldest marathon in Canada), welcomed thousands of new runners to our sport and community, tried some new things (spoiler: some worked, some did not) and just finished some deep strategic work that is going to shape the next 3-5 years. The stoke is high at Run Calgary HQ and we can’t wait to share more in the coming months.

It is an absolute privilege to usher this special organization into its sixth decade. Last fall I returned from a mat leave with a renewed energy and a genuine appreciation that I can continue to work in running and am contributing to the health, wellbeing and happiness for our community. Upon my return, I also made the surprising discovery that at some point over the last few years, Run Calgary quietly matured from a scrappy not-for-profit to a confident business with an exceptional staff who really care about getting people moving and building community.

GROWING PAINS

2024 has not been without its challenges. Growing up comes with … well, growing pains. 

• This year we sold out the Servus Calgary Marathon, which had a tremendous ripple effect on parts of the operations.
• We (and all outdoor events) continue to grapple with uncertainty due to climate change.
• We fixed some things ie. alleviated the pressure on parking by offering free transit but that created other issues we didn’t properly anticipate.
• We had 4 types of weather on marathon Sunday depending on where you were in the city and at what time, resulting in many cold finishers, some soggy bags (no more plastic!) and an underutilized festival area that our team worked so hard to create.
• And notably three of our participants this spring faced major medical issues (thankfully all three recovered, thanks to our remarkable medical teams and first responders), which has been traumatic for some volunteers and staff despite the positive outcome.

We are growing, evolving and learning…as an organization and individually. Meanwhile, the industry and challenges we face as race directors are also changing, and so are the desires and needs of our participants (that is you!). 

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COMING UP NEXT

We have an incredible Fall line-up of boutique experiences that just happen to include some running and walking! Here is a little re-introduction to our next three events coming up in September:

Love is Love Mile: Calling All Allies and LGBTQ2S+ Participants

Run, walk or use your mobility device to complete a one mile course down a closed 9th Ave on Sunday September 1, being cheered on by Pride Parade spectators. After you cross the finish line, you’ll then have the opportunity to join the parade with our Run Calgary float crew!

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Beat Beethoven: New Date, Time and Venue

Beat Beethoven + Phil in the Park is an epic collision of art and sport. Walk, run or waltz your way through 4 km or 8 km while listening to live Beethoven music performed by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Join us on Sunday September 8 at 2 pm, beginning at Prince’s Island Park for the first time ever!

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Wild Run: Calgary’s Only Zoo Run Powered by Orangetheory Fitness

Get ready for all things polar bear themed as we fundraise for wildlife conservation and raise awareness of biodiversity loss and climate change! Choose from a 4 km solo race, 10 mile (16km) solo race, or round up your crew and race the 10 mile course as a relay (2-4 members)! All participants receive free entry into the Calgary Zoo after the race!

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If you made it this far, thanks for reading and I would love to hear from you! Email me at kirsten@calgarymarathon.com and let me know your ideas, what you would like to see from Run Calgary in the year ahead, feedback on your experience with us or cool things you saw at another event that we might want to try!

As a runner turned event director I want to build things I would enjoy but we don’t always get it right. Your feedback is crucial. We use it to shape the experience people will have at subsequent events. A special thank you goes out to the 1347 people who filled in our post-marathon survey, we read every single comment.

Emily, Run Calgary’s Marketing Manager, suggested I commit to providing an update monthly (approximately) for a year and see what happens. I wasn’t so sure there was enough behind-the-scenes information about Run Calgary to share (or that there’s an audience for it), but it turns out I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I wanted to share (including that we’re hiring a few new positions). Be on the lookout for another update in September, if nothing else I am told it can boost our SEO! 

Happy Running, 

Kirsten