2010 Sask Marathon Route Tour - video and text

I am afraid that both the video and the text are somewhat incomplete. I made these today and they work for me because I have been there and I know what I am describing. I like to know what's coming. It helps me to compartmentalize the race which I find very helpful. I do know know why my Garmin shows the course to be 38.8 km long. I did my best to follow the maps at www.SaskMarathon.ca. I am assured be people who I hold in high regard that the course is 42.195 km long. So... my Garmin was off, I didn't follow the route correctly, or the route shown on the map is not quite right. Something... ****The corrected map is now posted at www.SaskMarathon.ca. Like the half-marathon, the full-marathon will run past Pinehouse and then double back before going west towards the finish line. The full marathon will go slightly further north on Whiteswan and the half does.****

You may find it easier to try and follow the video while reading the text notes? Or note. If you have any questions about the course I will be happy to give you my thoughts. Email Dave@C95.com.



2010 Saskatchewan Marathon Course Narration

0 to 2.24 (start to Water #1 at Red River Road)
A run up and down hills on street in a residential neighborhood. From the starting line we run east on Pinehouse. About 500 meters into the course we reach the steep part of the decent on Pinehouse. This steep part of the hill is about 400 meter to the right turn at Saguenay Drive. We run south on Saguenay for about 500 meters –this is flat. Then we turn right and go west on Assiniboine for a little over 1 km. This is a long, slow climb and is probably the worst hill climb on the course. Fortunately, it is right at the start. This first section ends at the first water station at the corner of Pinehouse and Red River Road where we turn left.

2.24 to 4.16 (Water #1 to Water #2 at south end of Archibald Arena)
Down a steep hill, exiting residential and heading south along the riverfront. Red River Road is a nice easy downhill for 750 meters until we turn onto Pembina which is a steep downhill for 300 meter and a VERY steel downhill for another 200 meters. Turn right onto Spadina and it is a nice flat run to Water Station #2.

4.16 to 6.09 (Water #2 to Water #3 at the Mendal Art Gallery)
South along the riverfront. This is a straight shot south on Spadina. Basically very flat the whole way. Nice scenic run along the riverfront.

6.09 to 7.80 (Water #3 to Water #4 Victoria Bridge Roundabout)
South along the waterfront. This section begins with the university Bridge underpass – about 250 meters slow downhill into a 250 meter slow uphill to bring is back to Spadina. Then a flat run to the Broadway Bride after 1 km. Same thing – a downhill under the bridge with a climb up the other side to Water Station #4 at the Victoria Bridge Roundabout.

7.80 to 9.95 (Water # 4 to Water #5 Skateboard Park)
Skirting the south end of downtown and taking us off the streets and onto Meewasin Trail. 500 meters into this section is the Freeway Bridge underpass – like the other underpasses a short down followed by a short up. There is a nice long downhill into Victoria Park to the turnaround. The water station is shortly past the turnaround on Meewasin Trail. Once the course goes onto the trail there may be some crowding. The trail is narrow and this portion is shared by half and full marathon runners.

9.95 to 11.61 (Water # 5 to Water #6 Kiwanis Memorial Bandshell)
North on Meewasin Trail from Victoria Park. This whole section is quite flat with the exception of a short climb after the Victoria Bridge followed by a short descent to go under the Broadway Bridge and then another short climb. In essence, more bridge underpasses but along a slightly different path on the outbound route. Half-marathon runners take note, you are halfway home just prior to the Sid Buckwold Bridge.

11.61 to 12.87 (Water #6 to Water #7 Mendal Art Gallery)
North on Meewasin Trail. This section ends with the same University Bridge underpass, in the opposite direction.

12.87 to 14.76 (Water #7 to Water #8 Archibald Arena)
North along the flat portion of Spadina to Archibald Arena. A nice flat section, scenic and enjoyable.

14.76 to 16.19 (Water #8 to Water #9 Ravine Drive)
North on Spadina to Ravine. This continues on the road, basically flat. Enjoy it as an ugly long slow climb is coming.

16.19 to 19.05 (Water #9 to Water #10 Lenore Drive)

North on Spadina/Whiteswan past the turnoff at Pinehouse towards the finish. This section starts with a slow decent along Whiteswan and then there is a long, slow climb from the lower portion of the course up to Pinehouse and continuing to climb all the way to Lenore. For the half-marathoners this will be a tough section. It is a long way between water stations, it involves a lot of uphill, and you are forced to run past the turnoff at Pinehouse – the finish line is just a kilometer away – but you have to run 1.5 km past and then double back. I find that mentally challenging.

19.05 to 21.1 (Water #10 to Water #11 Adilman Dr)
North on Whiteswan and through Silverwood approaching the turnaround. This continues as a hard climb up Whiteswan to Silverwood Road. The portion through Silverwood is fairly flat. Note that the half marathon point is at the turn off onto Adilman is the ½ way point. Think of all those half-marathoners who are now finishing and eating and drinking. The good news is that once we get to the top of the Whiteswan hill the worst is over. Yes, there are some small undulations to come but the longest climb of the course is behind us. Focus now on the fact that other than some short up and downs, the only extended climb that remains is the last 3 km of the course. As a side note, my family bought the Adilman house in 1942 and my father is still living there. There is a good chance that the Adilman house will ultimately be 100 years in the Scharf family. I guess we can call it the Scharf house.

21.1 to 23.83 (Water #11 to Water #12 Lenore Drive)
Turnaround and back onto the trails. We the same route back through Silverwood and down the Whiteswan hill. Near the bottom of the hill we leave the street and head back onto the Meewasin Trail. Overall this will be a nice portion of the run. Reaching the first turnaround of the back half will be uplifting. And, this section is largely downhill.

23.83 to 26.91 (Water #12 to Water #13 Ravine Drive)
South on Meewasin Trail. There are lots of small undulations along this section at the trail tends to up and down more than the street.  Although, half way through this section we leave the trail and go back onto the street for a nice long, coast downhill followed by a climb up to Ravine.

26.91 to 29.45 (Water #13 to Water #14 Train Bridge)
From Ravine it’s a nice run south to the 42nd street bridge. We cross the river and run up a very short but very gross little hill (it will hurt) and then head south on Meewasin Trail to the train bridge. This will be a hard portion of the run for me. The stretch from bridge to bridge on the east side of the river is flat but barren. I find it a very boring section of the run.

29.45 to 33.02 (Water #14 to Water #15 Train Bridge)
This will also be a tough section – there are several small rollers (Devil’s Dip and the section behind the Royal University Hospital). None of them are long but some portions are quite steep. The turnaround at the Univerity Bridge will be uplifting, though, as it is the final turnaround and we are now, truly, headed home.

33.02 to 35.62 (Water #15 to Water #16 Ravine Drive)
Reversing course along the barren stretch between the Train Bridge and the 42nd Street Bridge and then we turn north on Whiteswan (again). The good news is that we are on the street, not the trail, and we have a nice flat run to Ravine before we REALLY bring the pain.

35.62 to 38.8 (Water #16 to Finish)
This will hurt. A lot. The last three kilometers feature a long, slow, grinding climb from the lowest part of the course to the turnoff at Pinehouse. At that turnoff there is only 1.3 km to go but it’s all uphill and 400 meters of it is up a STEEP hill. Suck it up buttercup, your Boston Qualifying time is only 7 minutes of pain away.