Thunderwolves launch seventh Indoor Marathon

It’s no coincidence the seventh annual Thunderwolves Indoor Marathon was launched on Wednesday.

It also happened to be Bell Let’s Talk Day.

The event, which annually draws between 300 and 400 runners, is conducted in support of mental health research and programming in Thunder Bay.

John Friday, vice-president of Children’s Centre of Thunder Bay, whose organization benefits from the proceeds of the marathon, said the running community has quickly come together to support the event over its first six years.

“It’s been a tremendous success right from the start. When we established it seven years ago we didn’t know what to expect and we were surprised and really encouraged by the support,” Friday said at a news conference launching the start of sign-ups for the Feb. 21 race, which will be held at the Lakehead University Hangar.

“People have a really fun time with it. They sometimes dress up in costumes. They have corporate sponsors or just groups of runners that want to put a team together and have a real fun morning together with the running community.”

It’s such a good cause, Friday added.

Bell has helped get the dialogue going to remove the stigma that often surrounds mental health, he said. The marathon can help create awareness and money at the local level.

“One in five children requires mental-health services and it’s something that historically has not been talked about. Bell and Children’s Centre Thunder Bay have really worked at removing the stigma and removing the barriers to getting help for people who need help.”

Lakehead track coach Kip Sigsworth said it started small and unsure how it might work out, running 211 laps around an indoor track.
He admitted he thought it was a one-year event.

But he’s glad he was wrong.

“The relay has really caught on and it allows people of all different fitness levels to be involved in a marathon, have a goal at the start of the year and get fit,” Sigsworth said.

In addition to the full marathon and the relay event, there will also be half-marathon and 10-kilometre categories.
For more information, or to register, visit www.thunderwolves.ca/indoormarathon or phone 343-5035.