A Brief History
Welcome to Clear the Trails 2003! This 5 k fun run/walk started several years ago when some hardy souls recognized that Edmonton was a winter city and it was tough to spend the season indoor on a treadmill. So, they organized the inaugural CTT run. It served to promote running outdoors during the winter and more important, it raised some money to put toward clearing the trails in the North Saskatchewan River valley.

By 1999, the City of Edmonton had undergone serious budget cuts and clearing the trails was no longer a priority. A new volunteer committee of recreational runners adopted the task of reviving the run. The Edmonton running community responded enthusiastically. Equipped with fluorescent glow sticks, more than 400 runners and walkers set out from Telus Field out into the subzero night of November 18, 1999. They raised $8,000 that was used to clear snow and sand icy patches on the trails from McKinnon Ravine to the Cloverdale Bridge. In recognition of this contribution, the City of Edmonton planted a CTT commemorative tree in Louise McKinney Park.

Buoyed by these results, the CTT committee renewed their efforts in 2000. Over 600 participants answered the call and raised $11,000. In 2001, another 600 runners and walkers charged out into the November night and an additional $11,000 was raised! And it was a good thing too, as the weather in both of these years produced poor trail conditions in the river valley. While the snow may have been late arriving, the ice from thawing and refreezing was daunting. The committee soon learned that clearing and sanding ice was a far more costly operation than clearing snow.

And here we are back in 2003! This year, we return to Telus Field and the run promises to be even more successful. The route will proceed east from Telus Field, cross the Low Level Bridge and return on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River to the 105th Street Bridge and into Telus Field. Our traditions of glow sticks and good times will be back! Thank you for joining us for Clear the Trails 2002 and supporting our effort to keep the winter trails safe and accessible for all Edmontonians.

- - by Joanne Archibald

Location:
Telus Field 10233 - 96 Avenue

Distance:
5K

Entry Fee:
$25.00 until Nov 9th, 2003
$30.00 after Nov 9th, 2003

5K run/walk Includes...
Stainless Steel Travel Mug for the first 500 registrants • Draw Prizes • Post run/walk Goodies

Race Package Pick-up:
109 Street Running Room
8537 - 109 Street
Edmonton, AB T6G 1E4
Ph: (780) 433-6062
Wednesday, Nov 19th, 4:00-8:00pm
Thursday, Nov 20th, 4:00-8:00pm

Telus Field
Friday, Nov 21st, 5:30-6:30pm

Funds raised by this event will
go towards clearing the trails
in the River Valley.