When the Firefighters Ten Mile Road Race began in 1910, there were about 20 competitive racers in the field.
A century later the competition has gotten much stiffer, as more and more elite runners find their way to the start line of the city’s oldest sporting event.
Kenya’s Gilbert Kiptoo has captured the past two races, with fellow countryman Phillip Kipchumba hot on his heels.
But they will have company along the way, race chairman Andrew Quirion said Tuesday at Halfway Motors, where the 2012 edition of the race was kicked off with the annual media conference.
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“While we can’t tell you definitely, we may have some competition for Philip and Gilbert,” Quirion said. “I think we’ll have a very good field of top-rated runners.”
Among the growing crowd of out-of-towners expected in the May 21 field are Winnipeg’s Paul Carr a two-time runner-up, and Superior, Wis.’s Paul Heitzman, who captured the half-marathon competition at last fall’s Miles with the Giant race.
Five-time champion Jon Balabuck, who last won in 2007, said the outside competition is great, but don’t be surprised if a local runner or two are in contention for the $1,000 top prize on the male side.
“There’s definitely a changing of the guard here in this city,” Balabuck said. “The 10K was last month and there were seven guys who went under 36 minutes. And that hasn’t happened in 15 or 20 years. So locally there’s going to be 10 guys who are going to put solid performances in, and that’s not including Gilbert, Phillip or Paul Carr, who’s coming in from Winnipeg.”
At 32, Balabuck said he’s not placing any bets on how he’ll finish, but he’s not ruling out a Jack Nicklaus-like return to glory this time around.
“The old legs somehow have magic in them sometimes, so don’t count anything out before it’s done. Let’s just have a great race and hopefully there are not too many bums in front of me,” said Balabuck, a city firefighter, which gives him double incentive in the event.
The 79th running of the race – it was halted during both World Wars and for 10 years in the 1950s and 1960s – could see the largest field ever, if the growth trend continues, Quirion said.
“From 2005 to 2011 we went from just over 600 to over 1,000 people,” he said. “That’s a 60 per cent increase in six years.
“And I just see this becoming an even more inclusive race.”
Racers may enter as individuals and compete for the top prize money - $250 will be awarded to the first-place male and female from Northwestern Ontario, or as part of a relay team, including five-person youth and student categories, three-person senior teams or five-person family fun teams.
Registration deadline is May 16 at 5 p.m., and unlike previous years, racers will not be able to register on the day of the race. Race kit picks up will be at Halfway Motors on May 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. or May 20 at the Columbus Centre from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Entry forms are available at www.10mileroadrace.org or at Fresh Air Experience on Victoria Avenue East.
