Your Friday May 26 Daily Update!

As of right now, we are still a go for Sunday! There is a bit more smoke in the air today, but we are continuing to monitor the forecasts and are cautiously optimistic!

We'll do whatever we can to get runners on the course on Sunday and want to give a big thanks to the public health and safety partners along with all our volunteers who are working through these contingency plans with us.

Please visit calgarymarathon.com/airquality for more information. Also follow along on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated!

We look forward to seeing everyone at he Runner's Expo/ Package Pick-up today and tomorrow! Happy Friday!

We are here with your daily Servus Calgary Marathon update for Thursday, May 25. The sun is shining and there’s only a hint of smoke in the air.

More importantly our team is on site at Stampede Park setting up! And that must mean that as of right now, the race is on! We’re actively working toward running this event on Sunday, and we hope everything is coming together for you, too.

As good as the air quality has been around Calgary the last few days, runners, walkers and wheelers should always be prepared to overcome last-minute changes, and that advice still stands. We do continue to work on contingency plans, just in case the air quality does deteriorate.

Please follow our social media channels for up to date information, and double check that your email address is correct in Race Roster, to ensure you’re informed of any major changes.

Have a great day today, and we’ll connect with you tomorrow!

We started these because of the air quality conditions in Calgary and because we were getting lots of questions from participants.

But two things have happened - firstly that the air quality cleared up, and so did your questions!

Or maybe it’s because thousands of you have been combing the Air Quality FAQ page that we published yesterday and got the answers you’re looking for.

So the good news today is… there is no news! As far as we’re concerned, the race is on! That said, there still are lots of fires burning across the province, and if the wind direction changes then the air quality might turn too.

Runners, walkers and wheelers should always be prepared to overcome last-minute changes, and that advice still stands.

While most of our team’s focus is on running Sunday’s events as planned, we do still continue to map out various contingencies that we might have to activate if the air quality is poor on Sunday.

For more information, check out the Air Quality FAQ on our website (calgarymarathon.com/airquality)

Two final things for today: first, remember you have to sign up for a package pick-up slot at GMC Stadium. There’s a limited number of spaces during each time slot, and some are already full, so head to our website to find a time that works for you. We’re open Friday from 11 to 8 and Saturday from 10 to 5, at GMC Stadium on the Calgary Stampede grounds.

Secondly, we do still need more volunteers. It takes over 1,000 volunteers to pull off our events on Sunday.

We’ve nearly got a full team now, but still have some important and fun roles that need to be filled, so please nudge your family and friends to sign up for a shift! They can do so much visiting calgarymarathon.com/volunteer!

Here’s your daily update for Tuesday, May 23. Most importantly — right now, the race is on! We anticipate we’ll be running Sunday’s event as planned. We’re actively working toward that goal, and you should, too!

Naturally, we’re working through other contingency plans at this time. To this end, we’ve answered lots of questions on a new Air Quality FAQ page that’s just been published at calgarymarathon.com/airquality. This includes info on three new policies:

• Traveller policy for people over 250 km from Calgary
• Moderate Risk Policy
• Race cancellation policy

In a week that brings uncertainty, we commit to:

• Prioritizing the health and safety of all participants, volunteers and staff
• Getting feet and wheels on Sunday’s race course and giving everyone a great experience, if at all safely possible
• Making decisions that work for most participants and the society in which we live, while balancing the longevity and legacy of the not-for-profit Calgary Marathon Society
• Openly, honest and timely communication

All participants have an email with more information. Please ensure your email address in Race Roster is accurate so you don’t miss any major announcements.

If you have questions, please email us (info@calgarymarathon.com) or message us on Facebook or Instagram.

We’re committing to daily updates between now and Sunday that will keep you informed about our response to the smokey conditions in Calgary.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by the fires across the province. Although no fires are in or near Calgary, there is heavy smoke in the area. Today:

• Right now, the race is on! We continue to prepare to run the event on Sunday as planned.
• We’ve started daily briefings with the City of Calgary, and provincial health and safety partners, to monitor current situations and forecasts and work through contingency plans.
• We’re working on a set of Frequently Asked Questions and will publish these on Tuesday May 23. We’ll email all registered participants when this is ready.
• We’re committing to posting updates to our social media accounts each afternoon to keep you informed.
• Any major updates will come by email. Please log into raceroster.com to ensure your email address is correct.
• We’ve announced a full deferral policy for anyone evacuated or under evacuation alert, and any first responders deployed to affected areas. Contact info@calgarymarathon.com for details.

The biggest question right now is: when will we decide if the race is going ahead? Easy answer: right now, the race is on! Naturally, we’re working on contingencies and would announce any changes once they’re certain — but wouldn’t make irreversible changes until as late as race morning. For now, we’re working on the assumption that Sunday’s race will proceed as planned.

Subscribe to our channels and keep an eye out for more detailed information tomorrow.

• Any registered participant who resides in an area that is evacuated or under evacuation alert due to the wildfires in Western Canada OR any first responders (police officers, firefighters, medical personnel) who have been activated and deployed to the wildfire areas in Western Canada may choose to:
  • Receive your t-shirt and medal, and donate 25% of your race entry to Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal
  • Receive your t-shirt and medal, and enter into the 2023 Servus Calgary Virtual Run Prize Draw
  • Receive your t-shirt and medal, and fully defer (100%) to any Run Calgary 2023 race, or the equivalent race distance for the 2024 Servus Calgary Marathon
• You don’t need to do anything now. Please contact info@calgarymarathon.com before June 2 to inform us of your choice.

Please note that this policy may be updated throughout the week and are subject to change.

We realize that out-of-town race participants have travel planning and logistical considerations, and additional costs. Although we’re planning for the race to continue, there is a risk that we might have to make last-minute changes. We know you might want more certainty than we can offer, but wanted to offer our deferral or cancellation policy for out-of-town participants sooner rather than later.

As you read this, please remember that as of now, we consider that this event is still going ahead on Sunday. These options, however, are in place for you right away.

Any registered participant who resides 250 km or more from Calgary can choose to:

• Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and donate 25% of your race entry to Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal
• Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and enter into the 2023 Servus Calgary Virtual Run Prize Draw
• Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and receive a 25% off code for any Run Calgary 2023 race, or the equivalent race distance for the 2024 Servus Calgary Marathon

There is nothing participants need to do to activate this offer before the race. Any eligible participant who does not start Sunday’s race will receive email with activation details in the week after the race.

Please note that this policy may be updated throughout the week and are subject to change.

If the Moderate Risk Policy is announced on race morning, the following options will be activated:

• All participants can run the event as planned if they choose
• Any participant will have the ability to do a day-of drop down to a shorter distance
• Any participant who has health concerns about running when the Moderate Risk Policy is activated, can select to:
  • Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and donate 25% of your race entry to Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal
  • Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and enter into the 2023 Servus Calgary Virtual Run Prize Draw
  • Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and receive a 25% off code for any Run Calgary 2023 race, or the equivalent race distance for the 2024 Servus Calgary Marathon

Please note that this policy may be updated throughout the week and are subject to change.

If your specific race is cancelled, you will have the option to:

• Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and donate 25% of your race entry to Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal
• Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and enter into the 2023 Servus Calgary Virtual Run Prize Draw
• Run virtually, receive t-shirt and medal, and receive a 25% off code for any Run Calgary 2023 race, or the equivalent race distance for the 2024 Servus Calgary Marathon
• If shorter races are not cancelled, we may offer you the option of running in a shorter race later on Sunday morning

Please note that this policy may be updated throughout the week and are subject to change.

We anticipate being able to run the event on Saturday as planned, and are actively working toward that goal. We consider cancelling the event as an irreversible decision, so we’ll leave the event cancellation decision until as late as possible. Right now we are planning to make the call no later than 9:30am on Saturday morning. This prevents us from making an irreversible decision we later regret. As anyone in Calgary now knows, the air quality can change drastically within an hour or two.

We anticipate that we’ll be running Sunday’s event as planned. We’re actively working toward that goal, and you should, too!
Naturally, we’re working through other contingency plans at this time. With many moving parts, there is no singular set of criteria to determine if the race will be canceled or adjusted in some way. The Calgary Marathon Society has appointed a team to make this decision that will take the following variables into consideration:

• The ability of public health and safety to support the event without taking away from wildfire response (e.g. our 150 police officers, local hospitals and ambulances)
• The ability of contracted/public service providers to support the event (e.g. road closure staff, Calgary Transit)
• The ability of 1,100 volunteers plus critical race staff to support the event without compromising their health
• Wind forecast, air quality index and particulate matter levels that our medical team uses to determine the risk level to participants, volunteers and staff

With many moving parts, there is no singular set of criteria to determine if the race will be canceled or adjusted in some way. The Calgary Marathon Society has appointed a team to make this decision that will take the following variables into consideration:

• The ability of public health and safety to support the event without taking away from wildfire response (e.g. our 150 police officers, local hospitals and ambulances)
• The ability of contracted/public service providers to support the event (e.g. road closure staff, Calgary Transit)
• The ability of 1,100 volunteers plus critical race staff to support the event without compromising their health
• Wind forecast, air quality index and particulate matter levels that our medical team uses to determine the risk level to participants, volunteers and staff

We anticipate that we’ll be running Sunday’s event as planned. We’re actively working toward that goal, and you should, too! 

We have started daily briefings with our medical team, City of Calgary and other public health and safety partners, to assess current conditions and discuss any changes or potential contingencies required by any of these partners due to the conditions.

We consider canceling the event is an irreversible decision, so unless any service providers dictate such, then we’ll leave the race cancellation decision until as late as possible, even on Sunday morning. This prevents us from making an irreversible decision we later regret. As anyone in Calgary now knows, the air quality can change drastically within an hour or two.

We anticipate that we’ll be running Sunday’s event as planned, and are actively working toward that goal.

Naturally, we’re working through other contingency plans at this time. One of the scenarios we are working on includes the air quality and particulate matter levels change during the race.

We already have a race operations centre that is active during the event, with course officials, our medical team, public health and safety all in one room. This team has mechanisms in place to communicate changes to participants, volunteers and officials during the race. We are bolstering communications methods to volunteers and staff this year.

With many moving parts, there is no singular set of criteria to determine if the race will be canceled or adjusted in some way. The Calgary Marathon Society has appointed a team to make this decision that will take the following variables into consideration:

• The ability of public health and safety to support the event without taking away from wildfire response (e.g. our 150 police officers, local hospitals and ambulances)
• The ability of contracted/public service providers to support the event (e.g. road closure staff, Calgary Transit)
• The ability of 1,100 volunteers plus critical race staff to support the event without compromising their health
• Wind forecast, air quality index and particulate matter levels that our medical team uses to determine the risk level to participants, volunteers and staff

The vast majority of our contractors, suppliers and equipment have already been purchased or, because of the size of our event and our contracts, require guaranteed payment that can’t be canceled this close to the event. In fact, 95% of our costs are now locked in. (Yes, this means we take a small hit in order to offer a 25% donation to Canadian Red Cross or a discount on future races, but we feel it’s the right thing to do.)

All that said, as of right now, we anticipate being able to run the event on Sunday as planned, and are actively working toward that goal.

We know that our 9,000+ participants have worked hard to prepare for this specific date, and many have made plans to visit Calgary from out of town.

The event is also an extremely detailed, 10-month planning process that relies on the work of hundreds of suppliers, staff, volunteers and equipment. Moving it is extremely difficult.

Right now, we anticipate being able to run the event on Sunday as planned, and are actively working toward that goal. We’re working through other contingency plans at this time.

Please check the terms and conditions of your insurance or contact your insurance provider to learn more about your coverage. Any claims are between you and that provider. Insurance purchased with your race registration is a contract between you and Reg Shield.

But as of right now, we anticipate that we’ll be running Sunday’s event as planned and we’re actively working toward that goal.