Atchison leads the way in first Mayor’s Marathon Day
- Fraser Needham | June 23, 2015
Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to raising money to extend the Meewasin trail from Wanuskewin Heritage Park to the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
On Sunday June 21, Mayor Atchison ran roughly 58 kilometres – more than a marathon – as part of the first inaugural Mayor’s Marathon Day.
Participants and sponsors of the run were given the opportunity to donate to the charity of their choice but were strongly encouraged to put this money toward the extension of the Meewasin trail.
The mayor’s run coincided with National Aboriginal Day celebrations.
Atchison ran his route in several stages beginning at Whitecap Dakota around 1 a.m. Sunday morning.
He then joined other runners at Victoria Park in Saskatoon shortly after 8 a.m. to take part in the start of the half marathon, 10, five and two kilomotre runs.
It was then over to the University of Saskatchewan to take part in National Aboriginal Day celebrations before hitting the trail again and finishing the run around 3 p.m. at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Mayor Atchison has been working with running coach Lyndon Smith for almost two years to prepare for the run.
The mayor says he was definitely tired but the breaks and decent weather helped.
“It’s good exercise and for a good cause, so you can’t beat that,” he says.
Whitecap Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear did not take part in the mayor’s run but says he fully supports the project.
“What he did is an incredible trek,” he says.
Organizers say about 400 people took part in the Mayor’s Marathon Day.