Hancock Canal Run 2015
Jul 18 2015 : 7:30 AM - 7:30 AM
Canal Run is held on Saturday July 18, 2015
Start Times and Locations
10-mile walk: 7:15 a.m. at McLain State Park
Half Marathon: 7:30 a.m. at Koskela Road
10-mile run: 8:00 a.m. at McLain State Park
5-mile walk: 8:55 a.m. at High Point Road
5-mile run: 8:50 a.m. at High Point Road
The Canal Run was started in 1975, and is the premier running event in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Following the rolling hills along the Portage Lake Shipping Canal, the Canal Run offers three distances for runners and walkers of all levels, including a half marathon, 10-mile run, 10-mile walk, five-mile run and five-mile walk.
Bob Olson founded the run in 1975. Olson was an avid runner, and owned WMPL radio at the time. For several years he ran the event with his family and a couple volunteers. The well-ran race continued to grow, and after a few years Olson contacted Ken Seaton, president of D&N Bank, which signed on to sponsor and support the event.
With the support of D&N Bank, which is now FirstMerit Bank, the race continued to grow. In the early 2000s Portage Health (2007) and Finlandia University (2010) signed on to help the event, which has grown to more than 500 racers a year.
In 2009 the race was expanded to include a five-mile option. In 2013 a half marathon has been added. The five- and 10-mile courses are both USATF certified for 2013.
Each of the sponsoring organizations commits to have employees volunteer. It takes more than 150 volunteers to make this event possible.
The race is self sustaining, bringing in enough money in registration fees and sponsorships to cover all the costs. Since 2011, the organizing committee was able to donate more than $7,000 to area non-profit organizations.