(Photos courtesy of SaskCentral QCM Volunteer Staff)

Do you have a walking category for the FULL marathon?

The SaskCentral QCM does not currently have a walk category for the full marathon. The Full Marathon course is officially open for 6 hours (8:00 AM - 2:00 PM) and all full marathon participants should have the ability to finish within this 6-hour time limit. The Half Marathon course is officially open for 5 hours (8:00 AM - 1:00 PM).

Aid stations and traffic control close once the last participant has passed, or at 2:00 PM (for the full marathon and relay events) or 1:00 PM (for the half marathon events), whichever comes first. After that point, participants still on the course become, essentially, "informed pedestrians" and must abide by regular pedestrian regulations (e.g. using sidewalks, crossing streets at controlled intersections, yielding to vehicle traffic, etc.). The SaskCentral QCM assumes no responsibility, including medical and aid station support, for participants on the course after course closing at 2:00 PM. However, a skeleton finish line crew, including timing and medical personnel, will remain until the most determined full marathoner is across the finish line.

Whether a participant is running or walking, the full marathon course is only open for 6 hours. So, if you feel very confident that you can complete the 42.2 km course within or very near that 6-hour limit, then you may wish to consider entering the full marathon event.

If, however, you estimate that you would need 6:30, 6:45, 7:00 hours or even longer to complete the full marathon course, then please enter the Half Marathon Walk event. 

If you have entered the Full Marathon event, with the expectation of finishing within the 6-hour time limit, only to find - as you train and race-day approaches - that you have been overly optimistic and can't possibly walk the full course in that time, you can certainly switch over to the Half Marathon Walk event, prior to race day. Please CLICK HERE for information about switching events.

Where do Half Marathon Walk participants line up at the start?

We ask that all Half Marathon Walk participants to please assemble at the rear of the starting pack, to avoid any runner/walker collisions at the start.

 

When we are coming to the finish line, why does the race announcer sometimes remind the walkers to move to one side of the course?

That's a good question. Most importantly, please understand that these reminders are not done out of disrespect for the worthy efforts of our Half Marathon Walk participants. The reason behind it is simply one of safety. We have several thousand people crossing the finish line during the race - sometimes in large bunches - and those bunches consist of participants travelling at quite different velocities.

As you approach the finish line, the race announcer may remind walkers to move to the right-hand side of the course. These announcements are made for YOUR safety - to prevent a zoned-out, tunnel-visioned runner from accidentally running into the back of a walker, and prevent a walker from accidentally moving in front of a runner coming up quickly from behind.

The announcer is in no way minimizing your efforts or achievements...we're just trying to avoid any finish-line crashes. We want you crossing the finish line with your arms raised in triumph, not tangled in some bruised pile with a runner who's making a wild final dash to break his Boston-qualifying time. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding.