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Running into the night
Iconic race to start this weekend

Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 18, 2015

INUVIK
One of the Beaufort Delta's iconic sporting events is set for Saturday.

NNSL photo/graphic

Steve Krug, recreation co-ordinator for the Town of Inuvik, is organizing this year's Midnight Sun Fun Run on June 20. The race is slated to offer five-kilometre and 10-kilometre runs, along with the half-marathon. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The starting gun for the annual Midnight Sun Fun Run will go off at approximately 10 p.m. as the runners in the hotly-competitive half-marathon race take off, followed at half-hour intervals by the 10-kilometre and five-kilometre runs.

While such runs are pretty common in many locations, there are not too many people who can say they're run a half-marathon under the midnight sun, said organizer Steve Krug.

"It's an annual event that usually runs on the summer solstice, around June 20," he explained.

"It's not your typical running race that happens during the afternoon or mid-morning hours. This is going to start in the evening, and it's run literally under the midnight sun."

Krug, who is the recreation co-ordinator for the Town of Inuvik, said he thinks it's that unique opportunity that attracts many of the runners.

"I think people do it just to say that they've done it," he explained. "To be able to say that you've run under the midnight sun inside the Arctic Circle, some people might look at you as if you've got four heads, but for some people that's an aspiration."

"It's one of those niche things that the North has to offer," he added. "You know the old saying that parents would tell their kids not to come home until the street lights come on? Well, they're not coming on. There's not many places you can do that."

Some regular runners have progressed steadily from the five-kilometre run to the 10-kilometre run through to the half-marathon, he said.

"It's pretty popular here, and people last year had a lot of fun. People are signing up already, and we've got some out-of-towners coming in from Vancouver."

The prospect of adding in a full marathon to the race is something that's being kicked around continually when it comes to planning the event, but there are logistical considerations to be overcome.

There are strict regulations as to registering a formal marathon, and the course has to be carefully planned, Krug said. Still, it's an intriguing idea that might bear fruit in coming years.

"I know there are some serious hardcore people that will come," he said. "They plan their lives around adventure races."

"It's something that didn't materialize this year, through no one's fault. It didn't hit as high on the radar for my department as it should have. It could definitely work out."

Krug said he's anticipating similar numbers for the run as last year, when 22 runners took part.

"It's going to be exciting, I think," he said.

Krug said he wasn't sure how long the race had been running. It's his second year running it, and he's "learned a few things along the way."

On Saturday, there will be some entertainment before the race starts, he said, and some activities and free snacks afterwards, focused on nutrition.

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