We will have two race package pickup days in Calgary, one at Millarville Racetrack and a limited one race day at the start line.
June 12 – noon to six PM, Strides Running Store, 3566 Garrison Gate, SW, Calgary
June 13 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Strides Running Store, 380 Canyon Meadows Dr. SE, Calgary
June 14 – Noon to 6 p.m., Lower Racetrack Hall, Millarville Racetrack, 306097-192 St, W, Millarville
June 15 – 6 a.m. to 8:05 a.m., Oilfields Arena, Black Diamond (please use one of the pre-race pickups in the days prior to ensure you can start on time).
Half Marathon & COBS Cinnamon Bun Run participants can choose one of three means of getting around. Please note masks are still required on transit (shuttle) buses in Alberta).
Park at the finish line, Millarville Racetrack, site of the Millarville Farmers’ Market, and take a shuttle bus to the start line in Black Diamond, then race back to your vehicle. Departure times are roughly 6:15 a.m. , 6:21, a.m. 6:25 a.m. 6:30 a.m., 6:35 a.m., 6:40 a.m. , 7:05 a.m., 7:10 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 7:20 a.m and 7:30 a.m. Ride to the start line is about 15-20 minutes. (Participants only). If you’re in the half marathon or relay, you’ll need to be on one of the earlier buses.
2) Park at the start line at Oilfields Arena in Black Diamond and, post-race from the Farmers’ Market, shuttle back to your vehicle. Post-Race shuttle departures from the Farmers’ Market start at 9 a.m. and leave every 30 minutes until 1 p.m. (Participants with bibs only.)
3) Have a friend drop you off at the start and pick you up at the finish.
For Relay participants, there will be a shuttle bus positioned near the Relay transition point at KM 9. This bus will have a single 9 a.m. departure back to Millarville Racetrack. Note it’s a roughly 10-15 minute walk from the relay point back to the start line. Relayers should note our comments in the “Relay” section for having a “Plan” for race day.
Check a sweater or other items at our Gear Bag Drop at the start line in Black Diamond and we will transport your bag and have it ready for your pickup when you cross the finish line at the Farmers Market. Our Alliance Church ladies are borrowing a brand-new, never-used cargo trailer from Bar T-5 Agra Services to move your stuff around!!! We would suggest Relay runners transport their own gear although the gear check is for everyone.
Pre-race, early morning at Oilfields Arena, Diamond Valley (formerly Black Diamond), the start line area, use the ample street parking surrounding the Arena, the high school and the elementary school, then take a few minutes to walk over to the start area at the Arena. Please respect resident driveways when you park. Pre-race, early morning at the Millarville Racetrack finish line area, we will have ample signage and a team of volunteers directing you to parking and to pre-race shuttle buses (participants only on the buses). Note this is a normal day for the Millarville Farmers’ Market. There is no longer a parking fee at the Millarville Racetrack. You may still donate to our non-profit Agricultural Society at the entrance to the Farmers’ Market.
If you can’t make the event for some reason and have found someone else to use your bib, you can transfer your bib to another participant by contacting us at [email protected]. We need name, address, including postal, e-mail, phone, birth date and preferred shirt size. Our primary interest is making sure we know who is on the course in case an emergency situation should arise as well as for accurate prizing if applicable. You and the person using your bib could be prohibited from participating in the future if we detect this happening without our knowledge. Takes just a minute to send us an email and keep us in the loop. We’re not mean like horses. That’s all we ask.
There will be ample port-a-potties and indoor washroom facilities at the Oilfield Arena start line in Diamond Valley (formerly Black Diamond). The Arena also has modern, indoor washroom facilities. Port-A-Potties will be also be positioned at approximately KM 3.2, KM 6.3, KM 9.1, KM 13.9, KM 15.3, KM 18 and at the finish line. For the 8-Milers, these port-a-potties are at Mile 3.4, Mile 4.6 and Mile 6.4 on the course. In other words, if you’re eating a cinnamon bun, there will also be a washroom right there!!! The Farmers’ Market near the finish line also has port-a-potties and ample modern, indoor facilities. There are public showers in the Washroom Building at the Racetrack, one for men and one for women.
There will be six water/AID stations along the half marathon/8-Miler routes. Gatorade and water and hand sanitizing will be available. On the half marathon route, Aid Stations will be located at approximately KM 3.2, KM 6.3, KM 9.1, KM 13.9, KM 15.3 and KM 18. For 8-Milers, you will see Aid Stations at approximately Mile 3.4, Mile 4.6 and Mile 6.4. COBS Cinnamon Bun participants will encounter two Cinnamon Bun Stations, the first at approximately Mile 3.4 (KM 13.9 on the half marathon course) and the second at Mile 6.4 (KM 18 on the half marathon course). The Cinnamon Bun stations are not true Aid Stations but do have Aid Stations next to them.
Not a runner? Not a problem!!! Join in the fun as one of our 125 volunteers, pre-race or during race day. Contact Rick at [email protected] for details on how you could help on the race committee or with race package pickup, as a course marshal or in other tasks at the start line, on the course or at the Farmers’ Market finish line. Our volunteers receive a great “Race Crew” t-shirt and a coupon to use at the Farmers’ Market concession on race morning.
Each participant will receive a unique finishers medal, a commemorative, logoed, t-shirt (while supplies last) along with race bags with Farmers’ Market related swag.
We have posted pictures of the 2023 medals at www.facebook.com/millarvillehalfmarathon . Make sure you “like” us to see timely updates.
We like to see a fast group up front setting the tone. We are currently comping at 1:17 for males and 1:25 for females. Use the website contact form to contact Rick with your details and request.
Half Marathon Men – John Black, Calgary, 1:11:28:45 in 2015 (altered course) Half Marathon Men – Nathan Kendrick, Calgary, 1:13:13:20 in 2014 (current course) Half Marathon Women – Melissa Kendrick, Calgary 1:21:46 in 2012 8-Mile “Runner” Men – Derek Campbell, Calgary, 48:43:31 in 2016 8-Mile “Runner” Women – Ella Hnatyshyn, Calgary, 58:30:11 in 2016 8-Mile “Bunner” – Men – Andrew Drobeck, Missoula, Montana, 47:32:36 in 2016 8-Mile “Bunner” – Women – Catherine Lebel, Calgary, 56:36 in 2022. Half Marathon Two Person Relay – Double D (Dawn Ladds/Don Bambury), 1:23:57:25 in 2015
For the full Half Marathon, first, second and third place overall males and females in the Half Marathon will receive sponsor prizes.
A Male or Female winning the event and setting a new course record in their categories will receive a $75 bonus. Male & Female Division winners for 12-14 years of age, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and older in the half marathon will receive sponsor gifts as prizes.
In the Half Marathon Relay, first, second and third place teams OVERALL will receive sponsor prizes. We will give a $75 prize to the winning relay team that beats the course record.
In the COBS Cinnamon Bun Run, first, second and third place “Bunners” and “Runners” in each of the male and female categories will receive sponsor prizes. We will give a $75 prize if the first place “Bunner” in each of the men and women category, stopping twice to eat cinnamon buns along the way, can beat the first place “Runner” in their category This has happened three times on the men’s side and once on the women’s side. We’d love to see it again!!! Additionally, we will give a $75 cash prize for the winning male or female in the “Bunner” and “Runner” categories setting new course records.
The race course will re-open to traffic at 10:30 a.m. for all events.
For the Half Marathon & Relay, the pace needed to finish within the time limit is just under 10 minutes per kilometer. For the COBS Cinnamon Bun Run, the pace needed to finish within the time limit is 18 minutes per mile, which doesn’t include your brave bun-eating pauses along the way. Any participants in any event remaining on the route after the course re-opens to traffic will be offered a ride to the finish area or, if declining, advised they will be unsupported by the race structure going forward. We’d ask that you remain on the left of the roadway and to obey all traffic laws. And yes, we’ll be waiting for you at the finish regardless.
The average high temperature for the area on June 15 for the last 15 years has been 19.1 Celcius. The average low temperature for the area on June 17 the last 15 years is 7.2 Celcius. Out of 15 years of data for June 17, there were three days with measurable precipitation. In the event of foul weather, Oilfields Arena in Diamond Valley East at the start line and Racetrack Hall at the finish line will serve as warm shelters.
Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society shall endeavour to safely host the event at the scheduled date and venue.
However, as our non-profit Agricultural Society incurs considerable pre-race expenses in staging the event, we do not offer refunds in normal circumstances.
Specifically, if local and/or regional governments, permitting agencies and/or public health officials do not permit in-person gathering at the scheduled date and location (ie: Covid-19), individual event registrations will be transferred to a corresponding virtual event in the Millarville “Run To The Farmers’ Market” Half Marathon schedule. |There will be no deferrals to a 2024 event.
Additionally, this is a rain or shine event but there can be some extreme “Act Of God” weather happenings that could result in cancellation. For the safety of volunteers and participants, a forecast of lightning in the area or lightning during the event may result in cancellation. Extreme flooding that results in interference with the race course (road washouts which prevent arriving at the finish line) may also result in cancellation.
No bikes on the course. No push carriages unless expressly permitted by the Race Committee ahead of time (contact us at [email protected] ) Contact us if you are giving your bib to another person (see above). Failure to do so might result in disqualification and prohibition from future events. If using ear buds, one ear only so you can hear emergency vehicles, instructions from race personnel and are aware of any issue around you. This is for your personal safety and those around you. Failure to do so might result in disqualification. No dogs on the course except for service animals. No jumping fences and mixing with horses or cows in fields. Horses and cows can be a bit mean and bite you or chase you if they don’t know you . . . or a rancher/acreage owner might do the same if they see you on their land. Permissible – stand along the fence line, pick some grass from the ditch and the horses might come over to the fence to take it from you. No stealing horses and riding to the finish line. We will notice that and disqualify you.
Black Diamond Hotel is a few blocks from the start line. Okotoks is a 20 minute drive from the start and finish lines and has modern hotel accommodations. South Calgary and High River, with modern hotel accommodation, are about 35 minutes drive from the start line and finish line. The Rotary campground in Black Diamond East is a few blocks from the start line. Millarville Racetrack, the finish line, has primitive camping with access to a washroom/shower building. Diamond Valley East, formerly Turner Valley), a few minutes drive from the start line and Kananaskis Country, about 30 minutes drive from the start line, have camping facilities. High River has a campground about 35 minutes from the start line. For reviews, please consult rating services like Tripadvisor.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Click here to Register for 2024!!!
June 12 – Noon to 6 pm, Strides Running Store, 3566 Garrison Gate, SW, Calgary
June 13 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Strides Running Store, 380 Canyon Meadows Dr. SE, Calgary
June 14 – Noon to 6 p.m., Lower Racetrack Hall, Millarville Racetrack, 306097-192 St, W, Millarville
June 15 – 6 a.m. to 8:05 a.m., Oilfields Arena, Black Diamond (please use one of the pre-race pickups in the days prior to ensure you can start on time).
